Taiwan court limits death penalty to most serious crimes

By Efe Ozkan

ISTANBUL (AA) - Taiwan’s Constitutional Court ruled on Friday that the death penalty should only be applied to the most grievous offenses, a decision that has significant implications for capital punishment in the country.

Hsu Tzong-li, president of the Judicial Yuan, emphasized that while the right to life is an essential principle within Taiwan's constitutional framework, it is "not absolute."

He stated that capital punishment can remain constitutional when applied to "the most serious" crimes, a ruling that directly impacts 37 inmates currently on death row.

Hsu further articulated that the death penalty serves as a necessary form of retribution aimed at deterring heinous acts, reinforcing the government’s stance on maintaining this punitive measure under stringent conditions.