Singapore’s Staunch Retention of the Death Penalty
In May 2024, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong upheld the nation’s stringent death penalty laws while intensifying repression against dissenters, as noted by Human Rights Watch in the World Report 2025. The report highlights the government’s harassment of death penalty opponents and attempts to restrict appeals for capital sentences, all amidst an alarming global pattern of escalating human rights violations.
Continued Executions Amid International Outcry
Despite rising international condemnation, Singapore has executed individuals for drug offenses, including four in 2024, ignoring appeals and pleas from the United Nations. Reports indicate that activists advocating against such punitive measures face investigations and charges under the Public Order Act, highlighting an oppressive climate increasingly hostile towards political dissent.
Repressive Laws Targeting Activists
Key anti-death penalty groups have been subjected to the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act, forcing them to disseminate state-mandated corrections for their commentary regarding executions. Activists Kokila Annamalai and the Transformative Justice Collective have continually faced harassment from authorities, reflecting a broader crackdown on the freedoms of expression, association, and assembly in Singapore.
Call for Immediate Change
Human Rights Watch urges the Singaporean government to impose an immediate moratorium on the death penalty, particularly for drug-related crimes. The report advocates for a pivotal shift towards abolition, asserting that preserving fundamental human rights ought to be prioritized over punitive measures in 21st-century governance.
– Singapore reaffirms strict death penalty laws under PM Lawrence Wong. – Activists face harassment and legal actions for opposing capital punishment. – Executions for drug offenses continue despite international criticism. – Human Rights Watch calls for a moratorium on the death penalty.
In a world gradually moving towards the abolition of capital punishment, Singapore remains mired in its stringent death penalty practices. The government’s ongoing repression of dissenting voices and execution of individuals for drug offenses defy international norms. Urgent actions are needed to halt such practices and ensure basic human rights are respected.
Original Source: www.hrw.org
