China Reduces Crimes Punishable By Death

Reform has to start somewhere. China, which Amnesty International estimates executed thousands of people in 2009, more than the rest of the world combined, now has 13 fewer nonviolent crimes for which it will execute people. People will no longer be executed for tax fraud or for smuggling historic relics, nor if they are over 75 years old at the time of the trial and their crime is not exceptionally cruel. The change marks the first time since 1979 that China has reduced the number of crimes punishable by death. The Xinhua news agency said the reform was "meant to further implement the principle of tempering justice with mercy.”