Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Japan executed two people today, including a 65-year old woman cult leader convicted of six murders that took place during supposed exorcisms.
The Justice Ministry said 65-year-old Sachiko Eto and 39-year-old Yukinori Matsuda were executed by hanging. Matsuda was convicted of killing two people during a robbery in 2003.
Eto turned to faith healing after she and her husband joined a cult, according to Japanese media reports. She and two accomplices, including her daughter, were convicted of beating their victims to drive out "demons" and then hiding their bodies at her home.
During her trial, Eto's lawyers argued that she had diminished responsibility as she was suffering mental problems at the time of the crimes. She pleaded not guilty, but a Japanese court upheld her sentence, ruling that her crimes were "excessively grave".
Eto's daughter and another cult member were sentenced to life in prison for the 1995 murders.
Japan is one of the few industrialised countries that have capital punishment. The lack of transparency in the system has been criticised by human rights groups, but capital punishment is generally supported by the public, according to opinion polls.
There were no executions in Japan in 2011 but seven have been carried out this year. The Justice Ministry says there are 131 convicts on Japan's Death Row.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments