Under fire from rights groups for carrying out world’s highest number of executions, China is all set to scrap death penalty for nine crimes, including smuggling weapons and nuclear materials while reinforcing punishments for terrorism related crimes.
According to the draft amendment being piloted in China’s Parliament, National People’s Congress, the nine crimes to be removed from death penalty include smuggling weapons, ammunition, nuclear materials or counterfeit currencies, counterfeiting currencies, raising funds by means of fraud, arranging for or forcing another person to engage in prostitution, obstructing a commander or a person on duty from performing his duties, fabricating rumors during wartime. After removing the death penalty for such crimes, those convicted will face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, State-run Xinhua news agency reported.