Nazeri Bin Lajim, a Singaporean citizen of Malay descent, was arrested in April 2012 for trafficking more than 33 grams of diamorphine. He was executed last Friday.
“According to international law, states have not yet abolished the death penalty is applicable only to the ‘most serious crimes’, which involve intentional murder,“Experts said. “Drug crimes clearly do not meet this threshold.”
Discrimination against minorities
They also noted a sharp increase in enforcement notices issued in Singapore this year.
“We are concerned that a disproportionate number of people are being sentenced to death for drug-related crimes. minorities and tend to come from economically disadvantaged backgroundsike Mr. Nazeri Bin Lajim,” said the experts.
“This practice leads to discriminatory treatment of minorities such as the Malays and vulnerable people.”
Experts said Bin Lajim’s forced execution was carried out despite claims that he had suffered from a long-standing drug addiction and that much of the diamorphine would be used for his personal use.
Activists under threat
In addition, the remainder of the narcotics in his possession will not reach the 15-gram threshold for applying Singapore’s mandatory death penalty.
“We are also deeply concerned by reports of increased pressure and threatening behaviors by the authorities against activists, journalists, legal professionals and human rights defenders, peace advocates against the death penalty and/or on behalf of those killed criminality, and those acts have a frightening effect on the civic space, “they” speak.
“The act of expressing one’s views and opposing the death penalty should be tolerated in a democratic country.”
Pause subsequent executions
Experts urge Singapore to suspend further executions of individuals on death row for drug offenses and instead go do their jobo prison, in accordance with international human rights law and standards.
They also called the authorities immediately establish a moratorium on all executions with views abolish the death penalty completely.
The government is also required to review the scope of the death penalty, especially for drug-related crimes, to ensure that its application and implementation is strictly limited to cases intentional murder.
“We reiterate that the mandatory use of the death penalty constitutes an act of arbitrary deprivation of life, as it is applied without regard to the individual circumstances of the victim,” the experts said. specific criminal record or circumstances,” the experts said.
“The mandatory nature of the death penalty is arbitrary and does not fit within the limits of the death penalty for ‘the most serious crimes.'”
11 experts issued UN-designated statements Dong Nhan Quyen Association track and report on specific topical issues such as extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions.
They are independent of any government, serve as their own individuals, and are not employees of the United Nations nor are they paid for their work.
