Singapore yesterday executed two people convicted of drug trafficking by hanging in what activists called a “shameful and inhuman punishment”, bringing the number of executions in the citystate to four since March.
The executions came after the April hanging of a mentally disabled man sparked international outrage.
Singapore, which has one of the toughest drug laws in the world, insists the death penalty is a deterrent to drug trafficking.
According to human rights activist Kirsten Han, Kalwant Singh, a 32yearold Malaysian, and Norasharee Gous, a Singaporean, were executed yesterday.
The activist told AFP that Kalwant’s sister received the death certificate and that Norasharee’s family took the body to a mosque.
Amnesty International called Singapore’s use of the death penalty a “blatant violation of human rights”.
Kalwant and Norasharee were convicted of heroin trafficking in 2016.
The Malaysian made a lastminute appeal on Wednesday, saying he had provided information leading to the arrest of a leading drug dealer, but the request was rejected by a threejudge panel.
Activists fear more executions in the coming months.
In a recent interview with the BBC, Home Secretary K Shanmugam defended Singapore’s position on the death penalty, saying there was “clear evidence that it is an important deterrent for wouldbe drug traffickers”.