Singapore executes nine people this year amid rising tensions

In Singapore, the authorities have stepped up their use of capital punishment, executing nine individuals for drug-related offences in the year 2024 alone. As of recent reports, there are still dozens more people on death row, facing imminent execution under the country's strict anti-drug laws. Among those executed was Masoud, a prisoner who had spent 14 years on death row after being convicted for drug offences when he was 17. Masoud's family expressed their grief over his execution, emphasizing the impact the death sentence has had on their lives, especially on their father. In response to the escalating use of capital punishment, a group of UN experts has urged the Singaporean government to adopt a human rights-based approach toward drug use and related disorders, highlighting the need for reform in the criminal justice system. Despite these appeals for change, the Singaporean government remains firm in its stance, rejecting any significant adjustments to its capital punishment policies for drug traffickers. This unwavering adherence to the death penalty has also led to increased scrutiny and hostility directed at anti-death penalty activists and organizations, who have reported harassment and intimidation by the authorities. Specifically, activists like Annamalai of the Transformative Justice Collective have faced repercussions under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act for speaking out against the death penalty, further contributing to a climate of fear surrounding activism on this issue. The government, while declaring that it does not target those speaking against the death penalty, has maintained its stringent laws, signaling a commitment to its current policies despite local and international criticism. Many advocates fear that this environment will suppress vital discussions about human rights and the ethical implications of capital punishment in Singapore, with numerous lives hanging in the balance as the debate continues.