The Ministry of Justice has denied that its execution of six death-row inmates was politically motivated.
Taiwan executed six death-row inmates on Friday. After the killing of a girl at school, the public have been calling for heavier punishments for serious crime. The London-based human rights group, Amnesty International, issued a statement saying that the execution of the six inmates “reeks of political calculations by a government attempting to gain points by quelling public anger”.
On Saturday Deputy Justice Minister Chen Ming-tang denied Amnesty International’s accusation. He said whether the death penalty should be abolished remains a controversial issue in many countries. He also said there is not an international treaty requiring all countries to abolish the death penalty.
Chen said that Taiwan has abolished mandatory death penalty, but judges have the discretion to impose capital punishment for up to eight types of crimes. He said even the United States and Japan have not abolished the death penalty.
Last year, Taiwan executed five people on death row and imposed one new death sentence.