Singapore executes disabled Malaysian convicted in drug case
NPR Online NewsSep 09, 2022
The Facts
On Fri., Nazeri bin Lajim was hanged at Changi Prison for possession of 33.39g of heroin a decade ago, marking Singapore's fifth execution for drug-related crimes in less than four months. He was sentenced to death in 2017.
This comes after the Court of Appeal rejected a plea to halt his execution on Thurs., claiming his appeal was made after the due window period and without reasonable reasons.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Singapore doesn't take joy in the death penalty, but Singaporeans understand the need for it. The nation's anti-drug strategy has proven to work, as the country has one of the lowest rates of drug abuse in the world. While many express sympathy for drug traffickers who face the death penalty, it's important to remember the immense harm drugs cause abusers and their families.
Establishment-critical narrative
Singapore's use of the death penalty doesn't represent an effective deterrent from crime but instead displays the country's disregard for human life. The practice of mandatory death sentences for drug-related crimes is ridiculously punitive and violates international human rights laws. These executions must stop.
