For the first time in nearly two decades, Singapore is preparing to carry out the execution of a woman on drug charges, as reported by human rights activists. The woman, 45-year-old Singaporean Saridewi Djamani, was convicted in 2018 for trafficking 30g (1.06oz) of heroin.
Her execution marks the third in three days, following that of fellow Singaporean Mohd Aziz bin Hussain, and the 15th since March 2022. Known for its stringent anti-drug legislation, Singapore holds that such laws are crucial for societal protection.
Aziz was found guilty of trafficking 50g of heroin. Singaporean law dictates that drug trafficking exceeding 15g of heroin or 500g of cannabis warrants capital punishment. In April of the last year, Tangaraju Suppiah, another Singaporean, was executed for facilitating the sale of 1kg (35oz) of cannabis via phone, a drug he never physically handled.
Upon reaching out for comment on Djamani’s impending execution, Singapore’s Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) chose not to respond. However, they previously commented on Aziz’s case, stating that he was granted “full due process,” and his appeal against the verdict and sentencing was dismissed in 2018.
Sir Richard Branson, the British billionaire, condemned Singapore’s execution practices, arguing that the death penalty doesn’t deter crime. He expressed that petty drug dealers, often cornered by their conditions, need assistance, not punishment.
Saridewi Djamani, who stands as one of the two women currently on death row in Singapore, will be the first woman to face execution since Yen May Woen, a hairdresser found guilty of drug trafficking in 2004. During her trial, Djamani argued that the heroin found was for personal use during the Islamic fasting month. While she admitted to dealing drugs, she maintained that her operations were minor in scale.
While authorities insist that such rigorous drug laws contribute to Singapore’s safety, critics vehemently contest this stance. Chiara Sangiorgio of Amnesty International refutes the deterrent effect of the death penalty on drug usage and availability. She highlights that executions for drug-related offenses reveal Singapore’s defiance of international safeguards on the death penalty.
