The death penalty in Taiwan remains partially compatible with the constitution of the East Asian island state. The Constitutional Court in the capital Taipei decided this on Friday. In the future, a kind of middle path must be followed.
Suggestion of the judges: Although the penalty still exists, it should now be strictly limited to certain crimes and circumstances. 37 prisoners, who had exhausted all avenues of appeal, had previously asked for an interpretation of the question of whether the death penalty was constitutional.
The court accepted the request in January of this year. The current decision of the judges only concerned the legal provisions applicable to the cases of the convicts, some of which are now considered unconstitutional.
45 people sentenced to death
Prisoners may hope for a new trial or other relief. However, there is a possibility that they will be sentenced to death again in the new trial.
There are currently 45 people sentenced to death in prison in Taiwan, eight of whom are still on appeal. The Taiwan Constitutional Court had previously dealt with the case in 1985, 1990 and 1999 and has always considered the death penalty constitutional. Execution there is by shooting.
A nation in conflict
However, the death penalty in the Republic is controversial. Some legal experts and human rights groups support its end, citing global developments and Taiwan’s commitment to international human rights treaties. However, polls show that a majority in Taiwan favors the death penalty.
Since the Democratic Progressive Party came to power eight years ago under President Tsai Ing-wen, the number of executions has dropped significantly. Two people have been executed. In the past eight years, Taiwan has carried out 33 death sentences under President Ma Ying-jeou of the National Chinese Kuomintang.
Source: Krone
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