Amnesty in Salisbury & South Wiltshire
Promoting human rights from Salisbury UK
October 2023
The 10th October is World Day Against the Death Penalty and we are asking you to write or email to Singapore which is active in using the penalty against drug dealers. The action contains some suggested points to make in your communication.
[Other Amnesty groups are free to use this material if they wish]
Despite international protests, the Singapore government executed by hanging Nagaenthran Dharmalingam – a man with an intellectual disability – today (27 April 2022). He was convicted in 2009 for importing 42.7 g (1.5 oz) of diamorphine (heroin) and sentenced to death under the states draconian anti-drug laws. The decision to execute someone with an intellectual disability is especially abhorrent. This is the second execution in Singapore in a month with a third scheduled for Friday 29th.
Asia-Pacific Amnesty director Erwin van der Borght said:
The execution of Nagaenthran is a disgraceful act by the Singapore government – ruthlessly carried out despite extensive protests in Singapore and Malaysia and an outcry across the world.
Amnesty International, 27 April 2022
The Singapore government justifies the use of the death penalty because of its alleged deterrent effect on drug related problems. Critics point out there is no evidence to support this claim.
Amnesty is opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances. Read our latest death penalty report.
In the early hours of yesterday morning (29 March) morning, Nagaenthran Dharmalingam, a man with intellectual disabilities on death row in Singapore, lost his fight in court against his execution. The courts may have rejected his appeal, but Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong could still save him. Nagen still needs this community to keep fighting for a life-saving pardon. The decision has received world wide condemnation. Singapore does not have a favourable human rights record and uses repressive laws against political opponents and human rights defenders. Human Rights Watch describes the country’s political environment at ‘overwhelmingly repressive’ with severe restrictions on free expression, association and assembly.
Nagaenthran claims he was coerced into carrying a package of heroin but that he was unaware of the contents. The UN has said the sentence is disproportionate and no allowance had been made by the authorities for his disabilities. His IQ is said to be 69.
In the 48 hours before his hearing, over 4,000 people made their voices heard and tweeted Lee Hsien Loong asking for Nagen to be spared. Only the Singaporean government can save him now, should they decide to show compassion and grant him a pardon that will spare his life.
Because of your support, Nagen is not standing alone in his fight for his life. For details and how you can help follow this link to the Reprieve site.
We include a link to a video of an interesting talk by Kirsten Han on the subject of the death penalty in Singapore.
Sources: Amnesty; Guardian; Reprieve; Human Rights Watch.
Amnesty in Salisbury & South Wiltshire 