Harm Reduction International (HRI) revealed in its latest annual report that at least 467 people were executed for drug-related offences in 2023, marking a new record. This number represents a 44% increase from the previous year, with drug executions accounting for 42% of all known death sentences carried out globally.
Countries such as Iran, Kuwait, and Singapore were confirmed to have carried out drug-related executions, with secrecy surrounding the issue in countries like China, Vietnam, and North Korea. The lack of information on death sentences in 2023 remains a concern, particularly in countries like China, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand.
While international law prohibits the use of the death penalty for non-intentional crimes or those not deemed “the most serious,” some countries still continue to sentence individuals to death for drug offences. Despite recent reforms in countries like Malaysia and Pakistan, where the mandatory death sentence has been abolished for certain violations, there are still 34 countries that retain the death penalty for drug crimes.
Singapore, in particular, has faced criticism for its increased use of the death penalty, with 50 people on death row, mostly convicted of drug-related offences. The recent execution of Bangladeshi national Ahmed Salim for murder sparked controversy, with the Singapore Police Force defending the use of capital punishment for crimes deemed to cause significant harm to victims or society.
HRI’s report underscores the ongoing challenges and contradictions in the application of the death penalty for drug offences globally, highlighting the need for continued advocacy and reform to protect human rights and ensure justice.
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