Taiwan Executes Murderer After Five-Year Hiatus, Sparking Death Penalty Debate
Taiwan executed Huang Lin-kai, convicted of a double murder and rape, marking its first execution in nearly five years and sparking condemnation from human rights groups. The Justice Ministry cited the severity of the crimes as justification, despite a Constitutional Court ruling limiting capital punishment to exceptional circumstances. This execution follows a moratorium lifted in 2010, with the death penalty remaining popular in Taiwan despite international criticism. The opposition Kuomintang party, conversely, supports capital punishment and urged the government to execute the remaining death row inmates.