China Executes Two Men for Deadly Attacks Amid Rising Public Violence
China executed Fan Weiqiu for a deadly car attack that killed 35 people and Xu Jiajin for a stabbing spree that killed eight. Fan’s actions stemmed from personal grievances, while Xu was frustrated over academic failures. Human rights organizations criticize China’s extensive use of the death penalty amidst rising public violence linked to societal stress.
China recently executed Fan Weiqiu, a 62-year-old man found guilty of a devastating car attack that killed 35 individuals and injured many more in Zhuhai. This incident, occurring on November 11, is considered the deadliest in the country in the last decade. Investigators revealed that Fan was motivated by dissatisfaction regarding property division after his divorce.
Additionally, Xu Jiajin, a 21-year-old, was executed for a separate stabbing incident at his university in Wuxi, which resulted in eight fatalities. Authorities noted Xu committed his attack out of frustration stemming from poor academic performance and subsequent failure to acquire his diploma.
Fan was arrested at the scene of his attack, exhibiting self-inflicted wounds, and subsequently charged with endangering public safety. The court deemed his motives “extremely vile” and his methods “particularly cruel,” leading to his death sentence being imposed shortly thereafter.
Xu confessed to his crimes promptly, and the severity of his actions resulted in a swift death penalty following just a month after his attack. Human rights groups have consistently highlighted China’s status as the world’s foremost executioner, with thousands executed annually, though official statistics remain undisclosed.
This series of public attacks in China has been attributed to individuals often reacting violently to personal grievances against society. The year 2024 has already witnessed a troubling count of 19 such attacks. Notably, another perpetrator, Huang Wen, drove his vehicle into a crowd of children in Changde city, in a display of alleged rage over financial and family issues, leading to a suspended death sentence.
Experts have indicated that the rise in violent incidents reflects broader societal stresses, particularly due to economic stagnation in China. George Magnus from Oxford University’s China Centre commented, “The tensions do seem to be building, and it doesn’t look like there is any way it is going to ease up in the near future.”
In summary, the execution of Fan Weiqiu and Xu Jiajin highlights a concerning trend in China regarding public violence spurred by personal grievances. The government’s swift response through capital punishment reflects societal tensions and a lack of mechanisms to address individual frustrations. These incidents underscore the growing issue of public safety and the psychological impact of economic difficulties on the population.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
