China 'gold medal' for executions – BBC

More than 60 crimes can carry the death penalty in China — BBC
**China ‘gold medal’ for executions**
4/15/2008
The Chinese authorities put to death at least 470 people last year, but probably killed many more, human rights group Amnesty International has said.

BBC
**China ‘gold medal’ for executions**
4/15/2008
The Chinese authorities put to death at least 470 people last year, but probably killed many more, human rights group Amnesty International has said.

heads up: this is a pretty old post, it may be outdated.

Wed Apr 16 2008

In case you're wondering what all the Olympic torch protestors have been complaining about, the BBC is running an article about a recent report from Amnesty International on the death penalty around the world. The article focuses on China.

"As the world's biggest executioner, China gets the 'gold medal' for global executions," said the organisation's UK director, Kate Allen.

"According to reliable estimates, on average China secretly executes around 22 prisoners every day - that's 374 people during the Olympic Games," she added.

Apparently, the idea of capital crimes is a bit different in China than the rest of the world:

More than 60 crimes can carry the death penalty in China, including tax fraud, stealing VAT receipts, damaging electric power facilities, selling counterfeit medicine, embezzlement, accepting bribes and drug offences, Amnesty [International] said.

…and the idea of due process is a bit different than western states:

The BBC's Quentin Sommerville, in Beijing, says justice is usually swift - most of those sentenced to death are executed only weeks after they are found guilty.

The article then goes on to discuss the findings in Iran and other Middle Eastern countries – where the death penalty is also prevalent. Iran was the only country to have more reported capital punishments than China.

The report and article end with a call for the world to stop employing the death penalty.