Singapore Executes First Woman in 19 Years for Heroin Trafficking

Singapore has executed its first woman in 19 years for drug trafficking, despite calls to abolish capital punishment for drug-related crimes. Saridewi Djamani, convicted in 2018 for trafficking 31 grams of heroin, was hanged, following the execution of a Singaporean man earlier in the week. Human rights groups and the United Nations have urged Singapore to halt executions for drug offenses, citing evidence that it is ineffective as a deterrent. Critics argue that Singapore's harsh policy disproportionately affects low-level traffickers and couriers, and that the country is out of step with the global trend of moving away from capital punishment.