Singapore has carried out its third execution in just two weeks, sparking controversy over the city-state's stance on capital punishment for drug-related offenses. Despite widespread calls to halt such executions, the Central Narcotics Bureau proceeded with the hanging of Mohamed Shalleh Abdul Latiff, a 39-year-old Singaporean, at Changi Prison on August 3.
Shalleh had been convicted of trafficking 54 grams of heroin, an amount the authorities deemed significant enough to "feed the addiction of about 640 abusers for a week." The execution was conducted following the due process of law, as per official statements.
Anti-death penalty advocates, including the Transformative Justice Collective in Singapore, had rallied behind Shalleh's case, arguing that he was merely a courier and not a major drug kingpin. They emphasized that he had worked as a delivery driver before his arrest in 2016 and maintained throughout his trial that he believed he was transporting contraband cigarettes for a friend, to whom he owed money. Shalleh's defense contended that he didn't verify the contents of the bag because of his trust in his friend.
However, the High Court judge ruled that the bond between Shalleh and his friend was not strong enough to justify such unwavering trust, leading to the imposition of the mandatory death penalty due to the lack of cooperation certificates from the prosecutors.
Singapore's drug laws are among the strictest in the world, with the death penalty mandated for trafficking more than 500 grams of cannabis and 15 grams of heroin. Shalleh's execution marks the fifth one this year for drug offenses and the 16th since Singapore resumed hangings in March 2022, after a two-year hiatus prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The recent executions have drawn significant international attention and condemnation. Last week, Saridewi Djamani, 45, became the first woman to be hanged in Singapore in 19 years for trafficking about 31 grams of heroin. Just two days prior, Mohammed Aziz Hussain, 56, was executed for trafficking approximately 50 grams of heroin.
Numerous human rights groups, international activists, and the United Nations have urged Singapore to reconsider its approach to capital punishment for drug offenses, arguing that there is mounting evidence that it is an ineffective deterrent. Despite these pleas, Singaporean authorities have consistently defended their capital punishment policy, asserting that it is crucial in combating drug demand and supply.
Critics of Singapore's harsh drug policies have raised concerns about the disproportionate punishment of low-level traffickers and couriers, who are often recruited from vulnerable and marginalized groups. They argue that the city-state's stance on capital punishment is out of step with global trends, as an increasing number of countries move away from such harsh penalties. For instance, neighboring Thailand has legalized cannabis, and Malaysia has abolished the mandatory death penalty for serious crimes this year.
As the debate over Singapore's drug laws intensifies, advocates on both sides continue to push for change, with the fate of many more lives potentially hanging in the balance.
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