SINGAPORE, October 10 — Amnesty International’s latest briefing highlights a regional shift away from capital punishment in Southeast Asia, leaving Singapore as an outlier in its continued use of the death penalty. The organization notes that several countries in the area have either reduced executions or abolished the penalty entirely, a trend that contrasts sharply with Singapore’s sustained application of the measure. According to the briefing, as of September 30, 2026, Singapore had executed 19 individuals, all for drug-related offenses, surpassing the 17 recorded in 2025.
Amnesty International criticized Singapore for targeting anti-death-penalty activists, including Jolovan Wham. The organization is calling on the governments of ASEAN member states that still retain the death penalty to establish or maintain an official moratorium on executions and work towards full abolition.
The briefing does not specify which countries have moved away from the death penalty, but characterizes the trend as growing and significant within the Southeast Asian context. Singapore’s position is described as isolated among its neighbors. The report does not address Singapore’s government response to the allegations or provide details on any domestic legal proceedings related to the cases mentioned.
It also does not outline the specific mechanisms by which activists like Jolovan Wham are said to be targeted. Amnesty International’s stance reflects its longstanding opposition to the death penalty worldwide, which it views as a violation of human rights.
The organization routinely publishes data and analyses on global capital punishment trends, often highlighting disparities between retentionist and abolitionist states. The briefing contributes to ongoing international scrutiny of Singapore’s criminal justice policies, particularly its strict drug laws. These laws have drawn criticism from various human rights groups over the years, though they retain public and political support within the country.
Looking ahead, the focus will likely remain on whether regional peers continue to move away from capital punishment and whether international pressure influences Singapore’s stance. For now, the city-state maintains its position despite the shifting landscape around it.
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