Singapore’s Abolition Movement Grows

In the wake of the tragic execution of Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam, Singapore’s abolition movement is growing with abolitionists reporting a significant increase in those supporting the abolition of the death penalty.

Unlike many other death row prisoners in Singapore, Nagaenthran’s case attracted the attention of the international media, and an online petition urging the President of Singapore to grant him clemency amassed over 100,000 signatures. Abolitionists in Singapore reported that the amount of support for Nagaenthran that materialised in such a short period was something they had never seen before in Singapore, and noted protestors were not just demanding mercy in his case, but to abolish the death penalty altogether.

Whilst it unfortunately remains the case that most Singaporeans are still presently in favour of the death penalty, this response to Nagaenthran’s story shows this support is not as unshakeable as perhaps once thought.

To read further about how the anti-death penalty movement in Singapore is changing, click here.