China Changes Death Penalty Law

Pie · 10-31-2006, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYTimes

BEIJING (AP) -- China's legislature on Tuesday barred all but the nation's highest court from approving death sentences, a move that state media called the country's biggest change to capital punishment in more than 20 years.

China is believed to account for most of the world's court-ordered executions, putting to death hundreds of people a year for crimes ranging from murder to such nonviolent offenses as tax evasion. Human rights groups have been protesting what they call miscarriages of justice and the extensive, arbitrary use of capital punishment.

The change, which will take effect on Jan. 1, 2007, ''is believed to be the most important reform of capital punishment in China in more than two decades,'' the official Xinhua News Agency said.

The Supreme People's Court announced last year it would start reviewing death sentences, ending a 23-year-old practice of allowing provincial courts to have final review. In June, state media said the court had begun hiring dozens of judges for the task.

Complaints have been rife in recent years that lower-level courts were mishandling death penalty cases.

''It's great news. This is a big step forward for China's legal system and human rights,'' said Li Heping, a prominent Chinese activist lawyer. ''I think the purpose of allowing the Supreme Court to make the final decision is so that China can control the total number of death penalties and create an atmosphere of humanitarianism.''

The government does not release comprehensive figures on executions but Amnesty International estimated in its 2005 report that at least 1,770 Chinese were executed that year. The total was believed to be much higher. At least 2,148 people were executed around the world last year, with 60 executions in the United States, the Amnesty report said.

How low will the Chinese number be next year? I'm betting less than 500 people.

10-31-2006, 02:18 PM

Funny... but most of America's Christians are all ready to throw the first stone.
Pro-life my ass.

Ibby · 10-31-2006, 02:18 PM

Bullshit, it just means more cases will go to the higher court.

Flint · 10-31-2006, 06:40 PM

What the fuck does this have to do with Texas?
China executes political dissidents and sells their body parts without the permission or the family.

Flint · 10-31-2006, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pie

China distances itself from Texas:

I clicked on that link, and did an Edit/Find (on this Page) for "Texas" and got no hits.

10-31-2006, 02:18 PM	#3
Ibby erika Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: "the high up north" Posts: 6,127	Bullshit, it just means more cases will go to the higher court. __________________ not really back, you didn't see me, i was never here shhhhhh

10-31-2006, 06:40 PM	#4
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	What the fuck does this have to do with Texas? China executes political dissidents and sells their body parts without the permission or the family. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

10-31-2006, 02:18 PM	#2
rkzenrage Guest Posts: n/a	Funny... but most of America's Christians are all ready to throw the first stone. Pro-life my ass.

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