Singapore carried out its third execution in a week on Friday, as 55-year-old Rosman Abdullah was hanged for drug trafficking, according to the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB). This brings the total executions this year in the city-state to eight, drawing sharp criticism from human rights advocates and the United Nations.
Rosman was convicted of trafficking 57.43 grams (2.03 ounces) of heroin, surpassing Singapore’s 15-gram threshold for the death penalty under its stringent anti-drug laws. First sentenced in July 2010, he had exhausted all legal appeals, including a plea for presidential clemency. The execution took place at Changi Prison.
In response to growing international criticism, the CNB defended its stance, stating that capital punishment is reserved for the “most serious crimes” and is a deterrent against drug trafficking, which they argue causes severe harm to individuals and society.
The execution follows the November 15 hangings of two other men—a Malaysian and a Singaporean—also convicted of drug trafficking. Since resuming executions in March 2022 after a pandemic-related pause, Singapore has carried out 24 hangings, according to an AFP tally.
The United Nations, along with human rights groups, has reiterated its call for Singapore to abolish the death penalty, arguing it is ineffective as a deterrent and incompatible with international human rights law. “There is increasing evidence showing the ineffectiveness of capital punishment as a deterrent,” UN Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said in a statement on Thursday.
Singapore remains one of the few developed nations to retain the death penalty, insisting it plays a crucial role in maintaining safety and security in the country. However, critics argue the policy disproportionately targets drug offenders without addressing the root causes of the issue.
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