London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Jul 19, 2025

0:00
0:00

Singapore Carries Out First Execution of a Woman in Two Decades Amid Capital Punishment Debate

Appeals from rights groups dismissed as another drug convict awaits execution on August 3.
Singapore made headlines on Friday as it executed a 45-year-old female citizen for drug trafficking, marking the city-state's first execution of a woman in nearly 20 years. Despite appeals from human rights organizations, the capital punishment was carried out, sparking debates over the efficacy and morality of such measures in deterring crime.

The Central Narcotics Bureau confirmed the execution of Saridewi Binte Djamani, who was found guilty of trafficking "not less than 30.72 grammes" of heroin, an amount exceeding the threshold that merits the death penalty in Singapore. Djamani's sentencing took place in 2018, and despite her appeal and plea for presidential clemency, her conviction and sentence were upheld, culminating in her execution on July 28, 2023.

The case has drawn attention to Singapore's stringent anti-drug laws, which impose the death penalty for trafficking over 500 grammes of cannabis or 15 grammes of heroin. The city-state resumed executions in March 2022 after a two-year hiatus during the Covid-19 pandemic, with Djamani becoming the 15th prisoner to be executed since then.

Djamani's execution marks the first time a woman has faced capital punishment in Singapore since 2004 when Yen May Woen, a Singaporean national, was hanged for drug trafficking.

The use of the death penalty has faced mounting criticism from international rights groups, including Amnesty International, who argue that there is no concrete evidence to support its effectiveness as a crime deterrent. Despite these pleas, Singapore remains steadfast in its stance, moving forward with the execution of another drug convict scheduled for August 3.

Kirsten Han, a Singaporean rights activist, expressed concern about the ongoing executions, stating, "This is the fourth execution this year, and there will be another one next week. It's horrible for the families and worrying for other death row inmates." She also highlighted that the number of women on death row in Singapore is relatively uncommon, and there is no clear reason for the gender disparity.

The recent execution prompted billionaire Richard Branson to intervene, urging the Singaporean government to "grant mercy" to Djamani and reconsider the use of capital punishment.
Comments

Oh ya 2 year ago
Well women have been pushing for equal rights for years so what is the problem. The drugs she was selling are as bad as those a guy would sell. So as the saying goes... Suck it up Princess

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
From Mystery to Meltdown, Crisis Within the Trump Administration: Epstein Files Ignite A Deepening Rift at the Highest Levels of Government Reveals Chaos, Leaks, and Growing MAGA Backlash
Trump Slams Putin Over War Death Toll, Teases Major Russia Announcement
Reparations argument crushed
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
×