Japan is one of the few countries in the developed world where the death penalty is in use, and of the countries that do, their system is especially brutal and in contravention of basic human rights. Death row prisoners are denied visitors, not allowed to speak to other prisoners, often placed in solitary confinement, and not even allowed to look guards in the eye. This is the sort of treatment that could turn the most well adjusted person insane.
No wonder it turned Iwao Hakamada completely mad, when asked “Do you know what an execution is?” the former record breaking boxer who has been incarcerated on death row for 41 years replied “The wisdom never dies. On that kind of wisdom, this is wisdom. It never dies. There are lots of ladies in the world, lots of animals. Everyone is living and feeling something. Elephants, dragons. No way will I die … I won’t die. There’s no one who will die. Somewhere around God you can live.”
Hakamada is obviously insane, psychiatrists have described him as having “institutional psychosis and “a state of insanity.” What civilised country would murder this man? It would be morally wrong as well as in contravention of international law.
If Hakamada is executed – which can happen at a moments notice in Japan – it will be the most terrible miscarriage of justice. There are still doubts over his conviction, two of the three judges in his case convicted him, and the other resigned and became a defence brief. The evidence in the trial is flimsy, a signed confession obtained under duress from someone in a questionable mental state and clothing linked to the case which didn’t fit him.
Amnesty international are calling on the incoming government of Japan - led by the Democratic Party of Japan – to put an immediate halt to executions. They have stopped short of that, although a national debate on capital punishment has been promised.
Anyone who has read this, I urge you to show your support, and demand a retrial for Iwao Hakamada through Amnesty international here
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