Saridewi Djamani And Others Executed In Singapore This Year

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Singapore has executed a number of  people for drug offenses in 2023. The most recent execution been that of Saridewi Djamani, a 45-year-old Singaporean woman who was hanged on July 28, 2023. Djamani was found guilty of trafficking 30 grams of heroin in 2018.

After execution of fellow Singaporean Mohd Aziz bin Hussain, 56, on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 for trafficking 50 grams of heroin, Djamani has become the second drug convict to be executed this week, and the 5th so far this year.

Others who have been executed for drug offenses in Singapore this year include:

• Tangaraju Suppiah, a 46-year-old Indian-Singaporean man who was hanged on April 26, 2023 for trafficking more than 1kg of cannabis.

• Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam, a Malaysian man who was hanged on April 27, 2022 for trafficking 42.72 grams of heroin.

• Datchinamurthy Kataiah, a 37-year-old Indian-Singaporean man who was hanged on January 24, 2023 for trafficking 60.9 grams of heroin.

The executions have been met with widespread criticism from human rights groups and activists, who argue that Singapore's death penalty for drug offenses is cruel, inhumane, and unnecessary. They also point out that Singapore's drug laws are disproportionately applied to marginalized communities, such as ethnic minorities, people of color, people from low-income backgrounds and people with drug abuse problems.

In a statement, Amnesty International said that the executions of Saridewi Djamani and Mohd Aziz bin Hussain were "a grim reminder of the urgent need for Singapore to abolish the death penalty." The organization called on the Singapore government to "immediately commute all death sentences and to introduce a moratorium on executions with a view to abolition."

BBC noted that "British billionaire Sir Richard Branson has again criticised Singapore for its executions, saying the death penalty is not a deterrent against crime."

According to Sir Branson in a post on Twitter on Thursday, "Small-scale drug traffickers need help, as most are bullied due to their circumstances".

Amnesty International's Chiara Sangiorgio in a statement via BBC and monitored by TFblog "There is no evidence that the death penalty has a unique deterrent effect or that it has any impact on the use and availability of drugs."

She added that "The only message that these executions send is that the government of Singapore is willing to once again defy international safeguards on the use of the death penalty"

The death penalty is a highly controversial issue in Singapore. Those who support the death penalty for drug offenses argue that it sends a strong message to potential traffickers and that it deters them from committing these crimes. They also argue that the death penalty is a just punishment for those who traffic drugs, which can have devastating consequences for individuals, families, and communities.

Below are some specific examples of statements from those in support of the death penalty for drug offenses in Singapore:

In 2012, the then-Minister for Home Affairs, Teo Chee Hean, said that the death penalty was "an effective deterrent against drug trafficking" and that "it is necessary to maintain Singapore's reputation as a safe and orderly society."

In 2013, the then-Chief Justice of Singapore, Chan Sek Keong, said that the death penalty was "a just punishment for drug trafficking" and that "it is a proportionate response to the seriousness of the crime."

A poll by the Straits Times in 2018 found that 80% of Singaporeans supported the death penalty for drug trafficking.

The executions of Saridewi Djamani and others in 2023 have reignited the debate over the death penalty in Singapore. It remains to be seen whether the government will be swayed by the mounting criticism and abolish the death penalty in the near future.

In addition to the five executions that have already taken place in 2023, there are currently 37 people on death row in Singapore. These people are all facing the death penalty for drug offenses. The next execution is scheduled to take place on August 25, 2023.

According to a Singapore-based human rights group, the Transformative Justice Collective, Saridewi was one of two women on death row in Singapore. The BBC reported that "she was the first woman executed by the city-state since hairdresser Yen May Woen in 2004, the group said. Yen was also convicted of drug trafficking."

The death penalty is a complex issue with no easy answers. However, it is clear that the executions of Saridewi Djamani and others in 2023 have had a profound impact on the people of Singapore and on the international community. The debate over the death penalty is likely to continue for many years to come.

Singapore alongside China, Iran and Saudi Arabia, are the only four countries to have recently carried out drug-related executions as per Amnesty International.

Music Legend Sinéad O’Connor Is Dead: What You Should Know About The 'Nothing Compares 2 U' Singer

Singer-songwriter Sinead O'Connor performs on stage at Vogue Theatre on February 01, 2020 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Andrew Chin/Getty Images via vanityfair.com)

Sinéad O'Connor, the Irish singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the early 1990s with her hit single "Nothing Compares 2 U," has died at the age of 56. Her family confirmed her death in a statement on Thursday.

O'Connor was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1966. She began her music career in the late 1980s, and her debut album, The Lion and the Cobra, was released in 1987. The album was a critical and commercial success, and it spawned the hit singles "Nothing Compares 2 U" and "Mandinka."

O'Connor's music was known for its raw emotion and its political and social commentary. She was a vocal critic of the Catholic Church, and she often used her platform to speak out against injustice. In 1992, she caused controversy when she tore up a picture of Pope John Paul II on live television to protest child abuse in the Catholic Church.

Despite the controversy, O'Connor remained a popular and influential figure in the music world. She released a total of 10 studio albums, and she won two Grammy Awards. She also starred in several films, including "In the Name of the Father" and "Vanilla Sky."

 (Picture: Getty Images)

O'Connor had a long and public battle with mental health issues. She had been open about her struggles with depression, bipolar disorder, and self-harm. In 2018, she converted to Islam and changed her name to Shuhada' Sadaqat. In recent years, she had been living in the United States and working on her autobiography.

O'Connor's death is a loss to the music world. She was a talented and outspoken artist who used her platform to speak out against injustice. She will be remembered for her unique voice, her powerful lyrics, and her courage.

Listed below are some of the things you should know about Sinéad O'Connor:

• She was born in Dublin, Ireland, on December 8, 1966.

• Her real name was Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor.

• She began her music career in the late 1980s, and her debut album, The Lion and the Cobra, was released in 1987.

• She had 10 studio albums released.

• She is best known for her hit single "Nothing Compares 2 U," which was originally written by Prince.

• She was a vocal critic of the Catholic Church and often used her platform to speak out against injustice.

• She won two Grammy Awards and was nominated for an Academy Award.

• She had a long and public battle with mental health issues.

• She converted to Islam in 2018 and changed her name to Shuhada' Sadaqat.

• Police were called at 11.18am on Wednesday 26 July to reports of an unresponsive woman at a residential address.

• She was pronounced dead at the screen by officers at the age of 56.

O'Connor's legacy will live on through her music and her activism. She was a unique and talented artist who will be remembered for her powerful voice and her outspokenness. She will be missed by her fans and her loved ones.