Amnesty International Calls for Halt to Execution in Singapore

Amnesty International has urged Singaporean authorities to immediately stop the execution of Pannir Selvam Pranthaman, a Malaysian national scheduled to be executed on 8 October 2025. Pranthaman has been on death row since 2017 after being convicted of drug trafficking for importing 51.84 grams of diamorphine, commonly known as heroin, into Singapore.

The organization condemned the country’s mandatory death penalty for drug-related offenses, highlighting what it described as “multiple layers of unfairness” in Pranthaman’s case. Amnesty International views this situation as indicative of broader issues within the Singaporean justice system, which it claims contravenes international legal standards.

Concerns Over Fair Trial and Human Rights

The case gained international attention following a heartfelt campaign by Pranthaman’s sister, who has shared personal memories and praised his talent for poetry. In her efforts, she has established a non-governmental organization aimed at advocating for her brother and others facing similar circumstances. This initiative seeks to reform the Singaporean justice system, focusing on addressing the root causes of drug trafficking rather than solely relying on punitive measures.

Amnesty International has raised concerns that Pranthaman’s case breaches his human right to a fair trial, as outlined in Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and challenges the right to life under Article 6. Under Singapore’s Misuse of Drugs Act, the death penalty is mandatory for drug offenses unless specific conditions are met. An accused individual must act solely as a “courier” and provide substantial cooperation with authorities to help combat drug trafficking in order to avoid the death penalty. Although Pranthaman qualified as a courier, he did not receive the cooperation certificate, as he denied any knowledge of possessing the drugs.

Amnesty International criticized the lack of transparency and perceived arbitrariness in the decision-making process surrounding such cases. The organization pointed out that when the required conditions are not met, the responsibility for sentencing effectively shifts to the prosecution, undermining the rights of the accused.

International Legal Standards and Execution Rates

According to expert bodies including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), Singapore’s legal framework regarding the death penalty violates international legal standards. The UN Human Rights Committee interprets Article 6 of the ICCPR to mean that mandatory death sentences should only be applied in the most serious crimes, which are understood to involve intentional killing.

In stark contrast, Singapore executed 11 people by hanging in 2025, with 9 of those executions related to drug offenses. This places Singapore among only four countries—alongside China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia—where executions for drug crimes were confirmed in 2024. Notably, nearly three-quarters of all countries worldwide have abolished the death penalty in practice or by law.

The global context reveals an alarming trend, as executions in 2023 reached their highest level since 2015. Amnesty International and other human rights organizations continue to advocate for a reassessment of the death penalty, particularly in light of its application to drug-related offenses, which they argue does not effectively address the underlying issues of drug trafficking and addiction.