Singapore: unlawful execution despite ongoing legal appeal raises fears of more to come

Responding to the news that the Singapore authorities executed a man for a drug-related offence today (4 October), Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for Research, Kate Schuetze, said:

“Azwan bin Bohari’s execution was clearly unlawful under international law and standards. It is especially concerning that this hanging took place in spite of a pending legal application.

“Executing people while they have ongoing appeals before the courts is a violation of international safeguards protecting the rights of people facing the death penalty. This execution calls into serious question the protections in the Singapore justice system to prevent the arbitrary deprivation of life.

 “With numerous others on death row, coupled with Singapore’s pursuit of executions even when there are appeals pending, there are grave fears that many more are at imminent risk of hanging. Most have been sentenced to death for drug-related offences in violation of restrictions limiting the death penalty’s use to ‘the most serious crimes’.

“We urge the Singapore government to immediately end its unlawful resort to the death penalty and immediately establish a moratorium on executions as a first critical step towards abolition. The majority of the world’s countries have already abolished the death penalty in full and several governments in the Asia-Pacific region have taken steps in that direction. It is high time Singapore followed suit.” 

Azwan bin Bohari

Singapore national Azwan bin Bohari was executed on 4 October 2024 after being found guilty in 2019 of possession of 26.5 grams of diamorphine (heroin) for the purpose of trafficking.

Azwan’s execution was previously stayed in April due to ongoing legal proceedings. His execution went ahead despite his legal application, which he is party to together with 30 others, remaining pending before the Supreme Court.

Azwan was convicted of drug trafficking, one of numerous criminal offences that carry a death penalty in Singapore, despite raising concerns regarding the right to a fair trial. 

Amnesty, alongside partner organisations in Singapore such as the Transnational Justice Collective, has previously documented the many ways in which the country’s ongoing use of the death penalty violates international law and standards. Amnesty opposes the death penalty unconditionally, in all cases and under any circumstances.