Singapore Executes First Woman in 19 Years for Heroin Trafficking

Singapore has executed its first woman in 19 years, Saridewi Djamani, for trafficking 31 grams of heroin, despite calls to end capital punishment for drug-related crimes. This comes just days after the execution of a Singaporean man for trafficking heroin. Human rights groups and the United Nations have urged Singapore to halt executions for drug offenses, arguing that it is ineffective as a deterrent. Singapore authorities maintain that capital punishment is necessary to combat drug demand and supply. 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.