I was appalled to hear that another two people have been executed in Japan. It is particularly shocking that the Japanese Government continues to adhere to the policy of informing neither the condemned individual nor the family that the execution is imminent, rendering a personal farewell impossible. The death penalty is an inhumane and cruel punishment. The German Government is against capital punishment under any circumstances and is campaigning for its universal abolition. So far, more than two thirds of all countries around the world have abolished the death penalty or are observing a moratorium. I once again call on the Japanese Government to refrain from carrying out further death sentences and to conduct an open debate in society about the death penalty; this punishment is an anachronism in the 21st century.