World’s longest-serving death row inmate, 88, is Acquitted 56 years after he was sentenced

In a landmark ruling, the Shizuoka District Court on Thursday acquitted Iwao Hakamada, the world’s longest-serving death row prisoner. The 88-year-old former boxer was convicted of a 1968 murder in Japan.
After decades of legal battles, Hakamada’s supporters secured a retrial in 2014. The court found that the evidence against him had been fabricated and coerced.
Judge Koshi Kunii declared Hakamada innocent, ending a decades-long ordeal that had drawn international attention. The acquittal has reignited scrutiny of Japan’s justice system, which critics say often relies on forced confessions.
Hakamada’s case has become a symbol of the injustices faced by death row inmates in Japan. His supporters have long argued that he was wrongfully convicted and held in solitary confinement for far too long. The acquittal is a significant victory for them and for human rights advocates around the world.
While Japan has made strides in recent years to reform its criminal justice system, the Hakamada case highlights the ongoing challenges it faces. The acquittal serves as a reminder of the importance of ensuring that justice is served fairly and impartially.