China executions increase in pace
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.(First Edition)
PEKING (Reuter) - China's pre-holiday execution blitz has spread nationwide, with one province alone trying some 2,900 people in a day and sentencing 360 to death or life imprisonment.
Today is China's National Day, and police across the country have executed death-row inmates before the holiday in a traditional clearing of the books. Incomplete statistics gathered from local newspapers this week indicate more than 100 convicts have been executed, many of them after 'mass sentencing rallies' before thousands in city stadiums.
In 119 towns and cities in the northern province of Hunan, convicts were marched before mass rallies on 25 September to hear their sentences, the official Hunan Daily said in an edition received in Peking yesterday. About 360 received the harshest possible punishment - death or life in prison - although officials were reluctant to disclose how many were actually executed.
Condemned criminals are usually killed shortly after sentencing with a bullet fired into the back of the head.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments