Three death row prisoners filed a lawsuit against the Japanese government on Tuesday, arguing that execution by hanging is cruel and should be abolished.
The trio at the Osaka detention centre, whose identities have not been revealed, are “seeking an injunction” against death by hanging, lawyer Kyoji Mizutani told AFP.
They are also demanding compensation of 33 million yen ($238,000), he added, for the psychological distress caused since they were given the death sentence, all since 2000.
Japan is one of the few developed countries to still have the death penalty, and hanging has been its sole execution method.
More than 100 people are on death row, including many serial killers.
Executions are usually implemented long after sentencing, with inmates held for years in solitary confinement and only told of their impending death a few hours beforehand.
Quadri Adejumo covers World News, Health, Climate & Humanitarian.
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