Taiwan Executes First Prisoner in Five Years

By Human Rights Watch

The execution of Huang Linkai (黃麟凱) on January 16 marks a troubling step backward for the protection of human rights in Taiwan. The Taiwanese government executed Huang, who was convicted of murder, despite greater restrictions being placed on the use of the death penalty following a ruling by the Constitutional Court in September. The court’s ruling upholding the death penalty stipulated increased protections, such as requiring the unanimous sentencing by a panel of judges. At the time the execution was scheduled, Huang’s lawyer had not received confirmation that the judges’ decision…

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