Japan court rejects inmates' calls to halt hanging on inhumane grounds

A Japanese court rejected on Friday three death-row inmates' demands against the state to halt their executions by hanging as an inhumane practice in violation of an international convention prohibiting cruel punishment.The Osaka District Court also denied the three's claims for damages totaling 33 million yen ($208,000) for mental anguish they claimed to suffer due to being exposed to fear for extended periods about when their executions will be carried out.All three, whose names, ages and gender are withheld, have been detained for more than 10 years.Presiding Judge Noriko Yokota said the…READ FULL ARTICLE