Singapore executes fourth drug trafficker in three weeks
- Masoud Rahimi Mehrzad was executed for drug trafficking on November 29, 2024.
- His execution was the fourth in Singapore within three weeks, following three other hangings for similar offenses.
- Singapore continues to enforce capital punishment despite international human rights concerns and calls for abolition.
On November 29, 2024, Singapore enforced its death penalty, executing Masoud Rahimi Mehrzad, a 35-year-old Singaporean-Iranian man convicted of drug trafficking in 2013. Born in Singapore to a Singaporean mother and an Iranian father, Mehrzad was sentenced for possession of over 31 grams of diamorphine, surpassing the 15-gram threshold that triggers the death penalty under Singapore's strict drug laws. This execution marked the fourth in three weeks, following the hangings of Rosman Abdullah and two others for similar offenses, highlighting the country’s continued commitment to capital punishment as a deterrent to crime. Multiple appeals for clemency were rejected, including a last-minute appeal denied just a day prior to his execution. Despite international calls for Singapore to reconsider its stance on capital punishment, including recent appeals from Iran, the Singaporean government maintains that these measures are essential for maintaining the nation’s safety. Notably, in 2024 alone, Singapore has executed nine individuals, indicating an ongoing trend in the application of the death penalty that emerged following a suspension during the COVID-19 pandemic. The UN and various human rights advocates have reiterated their opposition to capital punishment, suggesting it lacks a demonstrable deterrent effect on crime. However, Singaporean officials counter that their rigorous legal framework is instrumental in keeping the country among the safest in Asia.