Over the past years thousands of opponents and critics of the Tunisian government have been detained for the peaceful expression of their beliefs. Torture and ill-treatment are common, especially during secret detention after arrest. Every year, China executes more of its citizens than the rest of the world's countries put together. AI's records show that 1,876 people were executed and that 3,152 people were sentenced to death during 1997 alone. Even these figures are believed to be far below the actual number, as only a fraction are publicly reported, and the number of death sentences passed each year remains a state secret.
Executions normally take place shortly after the death sentence is passed.
However, some of those sentenced to death are granted two-year stays of execution. To AI's knowledge, between 15 and 71 people were granted such stays of execution in January 1997. In January 1999, they will either have their sentences commuted to life imprisonment or be executed. Their names are shown in the panel, right, in order of sentencing. Also call for the veil of secrecy surrounding the use of the death penalty in China to be lifted.