Singapore's controversial death penalty: about to execute first woman in 20 years

25-07-2023

Lone de Chene

South East Asia and Pacific Researcher,

Global Human Rights defence.

A 56-year-old Singaporean man, Mohammed Aziz Hussain, and a 45-year-old Singaporean woman, Saridewi Djamani, are scheduled to be executed by hanging at Singapore’s Changi Prison on 26 and 28 July 2023, respectively. Both prisoners were found guilty of drug-related offenses and given the execution notice one week before their scheduled execution. It is striking that Saridewi Djamani will be the first woman in 20 years who is executed. 

Both prisoners were found guilty of drug-related offenses. Hussain was convicted of trafficking around 50 grams of heroin. The High Court sentenced him to death in 2018. Ms. Djamani was convicted of trafficking around 30 grams of heroin; her sentence also dates from 2018.

Singapore's death penalty is quite controversial. Singapore is one of only four countries, alongside China, Iran and Saudi Arabia, where executions for drug-related offenses were confirmed in 2022. Singapore's place in this list is surprising, as it is considered a progressive country by many. The UN has condemned the use of the death penalty for drug-related offences.  

In response to news about the executions Amnesty International’s death penalty expert Chiara Sangiorgio said:  “It is unconscionable that authorities in Singapore continue to cruelly pursue more executions in the name of drug control. There is no evidence that the death penalty has a unique deterrent effect or that it has any impact on the use and availability of drugs. As countries around the world do away with the death penalty and embrace drug policy reform, Singapore’s authorities are doing neither.” 

Sources and further readings:

Amnesty International. (2023). Singapore: Stop two imminent and unlawful executions for drug trafficking. Amnesty International. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/07/singapore-stop-two-imminent-and-unlawful-executions-for-drug-trafficking/ 

Parry, R. L. (2023, July 25). Singapore to execute first woman in almost 20 years. The Times UK. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/singapore-execute-hang-woman-20-years-saridewi-djamani-death-penalty-7xdw9mrrr

(2023, July 25). Singapore: First woman set to be executed in nearly 20 years. (n.d.). International Federation for Human Rights. https://www.fidh.org/en/region/asia/singapore/singapore-first-woman-set-to-be-executed-in-nearly-20-years