Singapore’s death row ‘main element of its drug policy’
Al JazeeraMay 16, 2023
Singapore has executed its third citizen in a little over a week for drug trafficking. The city-state hanged a 39-year-old citizen Thursday for trafficking 1.9 ounces of heroin — four times the threshold at which the city-state imposes the death penalty.
Mohamed Shalleh Abdul Latiff was sentenced to death in 2019 for drug trafficking. During his trial, Shalleh said he believed he was delivering contraband cigarettes for a friend to whom he owed money.
Singapore's strict anti-drug laws are what serve as a strong deterrent against crime. Drug laws and procedures in Singapore apply equally to all, regardless of race, nationality, education level, or financial status. Capital punishment has been effective in keeping Singapore safe and secure. The global community must put this in context.
Singapore is far behind the global human rights standards towards capital punishment. Human rights groups and the United Nations have urged Singapore to put a moratorium on all executions and instead pursue more effective measures to address drug trafficking.