Singapore Defies Calls for Change: Executes First Woman in 19 Years for Drug Crime

Singapore Conducts First Execution of a Woman in 19 Years Despite Calls to Cease Capital Punishment for Drug-Related Crimes Singapore made headlines as it conducted its first execution of a woman in 19 years on Friday, marking its second hanging this week for drug trafficking.

Saridewi Djamani, 45, was sentenced to death in 2018 for trafficking nearly 31 grams of pure heroin, also known as diamorphine.

The Central Narcotics Bureau stated that this amount was "sufficient to feed the addiction of about 370 abusers for a week." Despite appeals and attempts to secure a presidential pardon, Djamani's punishment was imposed, making her the first woman to be executed in Singapore since 2004.

This event has sparked a debate on the efficacy and humaneness of Singapore's drug laws and capital punishment. Critics argue that the death penalty does not deter drug offenses and fails to address the root causes of addiction.

Amnesty International's Chiara Sangiorgio stated that there is no evidence that the death penalty has a unique deterrent effect or impacts the availability of drugs. Human Rights Watch's Phil Robertson called Singapore's policies inhumane and its drug law draconian.

International activists and the United Nations have called on Singapore to halt executions for drug offenses, citing increasing evidence of its ineffectiveness. However, Singapore authorities maintain that capital punishment is crucial in curbing drug demand and supply. Some groups have highlighted the disproportionate impact of Singapore's policies on marginalized communities.

They argue that low-level traffickers and couriers, who are typically recruited from vulnerable groups, bear the brunt of harsh punishments. Critics also note that Singapore's stance on capital punishment contrasts with the global trend of countries moving away from such extreme measures.

Despite international pressure, Singapore has executed 15 people for drug offenses since March 2022, averaging one execution per month. Anti-death penalty activists have raised concerns about another execution scheduled for August 3, calling for an immediate moratorium on the use of the death penalty.

As the debate on the effectiveness and ethics of capital punishment continues, the world watches closely to see if Singapore will respond to calls for change or maintain its stringent approach to combating drug-related crimes.