Press release

Hugo Swire saddened by execution in Japan

Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire has expressed his regret at today’s execution in Japan.

• From: Foreign & Commonwealth Office and The Rt Hon Hugo Swire
• Published: 12 September 2013

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The Minister said:

I was saddened to hear about the execution of Tokuhisa Kumagai carried out in Japan on Thursday 12 September. The UK opposes as a matter of principle all uses of the death penalty, whatever the crime committed.

We will continue to raise our opposition to the death penalty with the Japanese government, including at the highest levels. We urge the Government of Japan to restart a public debate on the use of the death penalty and recognise the international trend towards its abolition.

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Published 12 September 2013