Photo/Illutration Hideko Hakamata smiles to the applause from the audience after her speech in Rome on Oct. 28. (Susumu Sakamoto)

ROME—The sister of an acquitted former inmate who spent decades on death row expressed hopes at an international conference here on Oct. 28 that her brother's story could help end the death penalty and wrongful convictions. 

Hideko Hakamata, 92, sister of Iwao Hakamata, spoke at the International Meeting for Peace, titled “Daring Peace” this year, which included a discussion on the death penalty. She talked about her brother and her efforts to help clear his name. 

Iwao Hakamata, 89, was sentenced to death for the 1966 murder of a family of four in Shizuoka Prefecture and later acquitted in a retrial. Hideko worked tirelessly together with his legal team by appealing for the retrial before it was granted.

She said that last year, 44 years after Iwao’s death sentence was finalized, he was acquitted.

“We have been seeking the truth, battling invisible authorities for 58 years since the arrest,” Hideko said. 

She also mentioned that Iwao had developed a mental illness due to his prolonged imprisonment and the constant fear of execution.

“Iwao has become mentally ill and physically weakened," Hideko said. "However, he was able to win his acquittal with the support of people around the world,” and expressed her gratitude.

The international conference brings together religious leaders from around the world to participate in dialogue on contemporary issues.

Related News