China executed four Canadians for drug crimes this year - Ottawa
www.bbc.com
The Chinese embassy in Canada said evidence for the Canadians' crimes was "solid and sufficient".

Four Canadians were executed in China on drug-related charges earlier this year, Canadian authorities have confirmed.

All of them were dual citizens, and their identities have been withheld upon the request of their families, Canada’s foreign minister Mélanie Joly told reporters on Wednesday.

She condemned the killings as “irreversible and inconsistent with basic human dignity”, adding that she had “asked personally for leniency”.

A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Canada said evidence for the Canadian nationals’ crimes was “solid and sufficient” and urged Canada to “stop making irresponsible remarks”, according to reports.

The Chinese embassy also added that Beijing had “fully guaranteed the rights and interests of the Canadian nationals concerned” and urged the Canadian government to respect “China’s judicial sovereignty”.

China does not recognise dual citizenship and takes a tough stance on drug crimes.

Joly said she had been following the cases “very closely” for months and had tried with other officials, including former prime minister Justin Trudeau, to stop the executions.

In a statement to Canadian media, Global Affairs Canada spokesperson Charlotte MacLeod said Canada had “repeatedly called for clemency for these individuals at the senior-most levels and remains steadfast in its opposition to the use of the death penalty in all cases, everywhere”.

China imposes the death penalty on serious crimes including those related to drugs, corruption and espionage. While the number of executions are kept secret, human rights groups believe China has one of the highest execution rates in the world.

However, it’s rare for the death penalty to be carried out on foreigners.

The executions revealed this week have sparked criticisms from campaigners.

“These shocking and inhumane executions of Canadian citizens by Chinese authorities should be a wake-up call for Canada,” said Ketty Nivyabandi from Amnesty International Canada. “We are devastated for the families of the victims, and we hold them in our hearts as they try to process the unimaginable.”

“Our thoughts also go to the loved ones of Canadian citizens whom China is holding on death row or whose whereabouts in the Chinese prison system are unknown.”

…

  • Xavienth@lemmygrad.ml
    1·
    1 day ago

    Rigourous due process for the death penalty is more expensive than a life sentence. So either you deny people rigourous due process in cases of the death sentence, or you spend more than you would have if you just imprisoned them for life. Additionally, the death penalty shows no retributive justice benefit over a life sentence, because retributive justice doesn’t work very well.

    The only argument I could ever think of for the death penalty is when a life sentence is impossible, whether by breakdown of government services like a civil war, or repeated escapes from prison. Anything else is just jerking yourself off at people dying - even if it’s the right people.

    • blakenongEnglish
      141·
      3 days ago

      You can’t expect anyone to take you seriously with that “chinaman” emoji. You just look like a racist magat.

        • blakenongEnglish
          71·
          2 days ago

          Ahhh, you are a racist magat. Well, I hope that works out for you. The maga government definitely doesn’t have your back lol.

          🐆

          • Rin@lemm.eeEnglish
            16·
            2 days ago

            I’m not even american, you donkey. and i don’t even support trump. Getting butthurt over a meme is a new low from the left.

            • blakenongEnglish
              42·
              2 days ago

              You don’t have to be American to like the right wing. Regardless, you’re a racist right wing piece of crap, and nothing you say is gonna “trump” that.

              • Rin@lemm.eeEnglish
                14·
                2 days ago

                If a meme and telling you to cope is all it takes to be a racist right wing etc etc, then fucking hell. I’m not fucking surprised people voted to fucking spite your ass 🐆

                enjoy your new america wanker. You helped make it

    • Dengalicious@lemmygrad.ml
      14·
      1 day ago

      Cry about it, I’m so sorry your junkie narco-murderer friends got what was coming to them. How awful, people who kill with drugs being punished! We should just put them in the charge of the government, cause why not? I’m sure they are (oops, were) great and upstanding citizens