Death Row Inmates In Japan Sue Government Over ‘Inhumane’ Same-Day Executions

ladbible.com -- Nov 06

Two death row inmates in Japan are suing the government over the way prisoners are notified just hours before their death sentence is due to be carried out.

They have demanded change and compensation for what their lawyer calls 'inhumane' practice, Reuters reports.

Currently, capital punishment in Japan is conducted by hanging. Inmates are not informed their sentence is set to be carried out until hours beforehand.

Human rights groups such as Amnesty International have demanded change for decades.

However, this is believed to be the first time prisoners have taken legal action over the practice.

On Thursday (4 November), the two death row prisoners filed a lawsuit in a district court in the western city of Osaka.