EU condemns Taiwan’s use of death penalty after man’s execution for double murder
Bloc criticises island for ‘cruel and inhumane punishment, which fails to act as a deterrent’
The European Union called on Taiwan to stop use of the death penalty after the self-ruled island executed an inmate who killed his ex-wife and five-year-old daughter in 2014.
Lee Hung-chi was executed by firing squad on Friday despite calls from rights groups to abolish the death penalty.
In a statement released after the execution, the EU said it was “unequivocally opposed to the use of capital punishment”.
“It is a cruel and inhumane punishment, which fails to act as a deterrent and represents an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity,” the statement said.
It added that the EU “looks to the Taiwanese authorities to immediately reintroduce a moratorium on the death penalty”.
Taiwan resumed capital punishment in 2010 after a five-year hiatus, with the death penalty reserved for the most serious crimes such as aggravated murder and kidnapping.