death penalty

China Sentences 13 to Death for Drug Charges in Public Rally

chinaChina sentenced 13 people to death on Friday for drug-related charges at a public rally attended by thousands.

According to the official Xinhua News Agency. the prisoners were among 38 convicts to receive sentences before a crowd of over 10,000 people in the city of Lufeng, which is located in the southern province of Guangdong. Eight of the prisoners were sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, while others were sentenced to lengthy prison terms.

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Indonesia Executes Eight People for Drug Offenses

An Indonesian police firing squad boards a boat heading to an island where eight drug-related executions took place (photo: CNN).
An Indonesian police firing squad boards a boat heading to an island where eight drug-related executions took place (photo: CNN).

Today, eight people were executed in Indonesia for drug offenses ranging from transporting heroin to intent to distribute cannabis.

Despite repeated pleas for mercy from family members, human rights organizations, the United Nations, and government officials around the world, Nigerians Martin Anderson, Australians Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, Raheem Agbaje Salami, Okwuduli Oyatanze, and Silvester Obiekwe Nwolise, Indonesian Zainal Abidin and Brazilian Rodrigo Gularte were killed by firing squad today, just past midnight in Indonesia’s timezone.

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