Kuala Lumpur, Oct 10 (AP/UNB) — Amnesty International has urged Malaysia to abolish the death penalty, saying unfair trials and the use of harsh treatment to obtain confessions put people at risk of execution.
In a reversal earlier this year, the government said the death penalty will continue but removed mandatory death sentences for 11 offenses.
The human rights group said Thursday that 73% of the 1,281 people on death row were convicted of drug offenses, including 568 foreigners and many poor members of ethnic minorities. It said a pattern of unfair trials and secretive hangings has stained Malaysia's criminal justice system.
It urged Malaysia to repeal the mandatory death penalty for all crimes and maintain a moratorium on executions until then.