Singapore: Third Person Recently Executed on Drug Charges
Singapore has executed its third citizen in a little over a week for drug trafficking. The city-state hanged a 39-year-old citizen Thursday for trafficking 1.9 ounces of heroin — four times the threshold at which the city-state imposes the death penalty.
Facts
- Singapore has executed its third citizen in a little over a week for drug trafficking. The city-state hanged a 39-year-old citizen Thursday for trafficking 1.9 ounces of heroin — four times the threshold at which the city-state imposes the death penalty.1
- Mohamed Shalleh Abdul Latiff was sentenced to death in 2019 for drug trafficking. During his trial, Shalleh said he believed he was delivering contraband cigarettes for a friend to whom he owed money.2
- The execution of Mohamed Shalleh comes only days after Singapore executed Saridewi Binte Djamani and Mohd Aziz bin Hussain on charges of drug trafficking. This triggered condemnation by the UN and human rights organizations.3
- Shalleh was the 16th prisoner to be executed since the government resumed executions in March 2022. A two-year moratorium on executions was conducted during COVID.4
- The Singaporean government continues to maintain that the death penalty is an effective deterrent against drug trafficking, despite growing international pressure.5
- The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty in Singapore last month, citing it as "inconsistent with the fundamental right to life, and to be free from torture and other inhuman treatment."3
Sources: 1UPI, 2ABC News, 3Al Jazeera, 4Guardian, and 5Al Arabiya English.
Narratives
- Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Al Jazeera. Singapore's strict anti-drug laws are what serve as a strong deterrent against crime. Drug laws and procedures in Singapore apply equally to all, regardless of race, nationality, education level, or financial status. Capital punishment has been effective in keeping Singapore safe and secure. The global community must put this in context.
- Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Associated Press. Singapore is far behind the global human rights standards towards capital punishment. Human rights groups and the United Nations have urged Singapore to put a moratorium on all executions and instead pursue more effective measures to address drug trafficking.
