Capital punishment in Macau

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Capital punishment in Macau refers to the legal and historical aspects of the death penalty in the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.

Historical Background[edit | edit source]

Capital punishment has a long history in Macau, dating back to its time as a Portuguese colony. During the colonial period, the death penalty was used for various crimes, including murder and treason. However, the last execution in Macau took place in the early 19th century.

Abolition[edit | edit source]

Macau abolished capital punishment in 1976, following the trend in Portugal, which had abolished the death penalty in 1976 as well. The abolition was part of a broader movement towards human rights and legal reform in the region.

Legal Framework[edit | edit source]

Since the abolition of the death penalty, Macau's legal system has been governed by the Macau Basic Law, which serves as the region's mini-constitution. The Basic Law explicitly prohibits the use of capital punishment. Article 28 of the Basic Law states that "the death penalty shall not be applied in the Macau Special Administrative Region."

Current Status[edit | edit source]

Today, Macau is one of the regions in the world where capital punishment is not practiced. The maximum penalty for the most serious crimes is life imprisonment. The legal system in Macau is based on the civil law system, influenced by Portuguese law, and it continues to uphold the prohibition of the death penalty.

Public Opinion[edit | edit source]

Public opinion in Macau generally supports the abolition of the death penalty. Surveys and studies have shown that the majority of the population believes in the effectiveness of life imprisonment as a deterrent to serious crimes.

Related Pages[edit | edit source]

See Also[edit | edit source]

Template:Macau topics

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD