Masoud Rahimi executed on 29 Nov morning after clemency appeal rejected by Singapore President

SINGAPORE:  Iranian-Singaporean Masoud Rahimi Mehrzad, a 34-year-old man on death row for over a decade, was executed at Changi Prison on the morning of Friday, 29 November 2024. This followed a series of failed appeals, including a clemency request rejected by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and a last-minute bid for a stay of execution dismissed by the Court of Appeal just one day before the execution. The 34-year-old has been on death row for 14 years after being convicted of drug trafficking. Arrested at 20, Rahimi was found in possession of 31 grams of diamorphine, which in Singapore carries a mandatory death penalty under its stringent anti-drug laws.

Clemency Denied

In a double blow on 28 November, Rahimi’s clemency appeal was rejected by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. A subsequent last-minute appeal to the Court of Appeal for a stay of execution was also dismissed, leaving the family with no remaining legal avenues. Rahimi’s case has attracted international attention, with prominent Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh penning an open letter to President Tharman. Sotoudeh implored him to exercise constitutional powers to halt the execution, citing the potential impact on the global fight against the death penalty. “In this specific case, where one of my compatriots has been sentenced to death, I am certain that your pardon and compassion could have a serious and positive impact on the fight against the death penalty in Iran, ”she wrote. “I respectfully ask you not to withhold this opportunity from Iran’s civil society. By exercising this legal authority, you can help us in this struggle,” she added.

A 14-Year Ordeal

Rahimi, born in Singapore to an Iranian father and a Singaporean mother, spent his early years between Iran and Dubai. At 17, he returned to Singapore alone to fulfil his National Service obligations. Family members and advocates have described his struggles with isolation during this time as a contributing factor to his vulnerability. Arrested in 2010, shortly before completing his National Service, Rahimi was charged with trafficking drugs. His family has argued that his age and circumstances at the time of arrest make his case deserving of clemency. Advocates have also highlighted a failure to notify the Iranian Consulate of his arrest, depriving him of consular support, a requirement under international agreements.

Iran’s Call for Reconsideration

Rahimi's execution also attracted attention from Iran’s government, which formally urged Singapore to reconsider the death sentence on humanitarian grounds. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote to his Singaporean counterpart, Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, requesting leniency in the case. This appeal coincided with a grim moment in Iran, where 12 individuals were executed just hours before Rahimi's death. The executions, carried out for drug-related and murder charges, underscored the ongoing and controversial global debate over the use of capital punishment. Human rights groups report a sharp increase in the use of the death penalty in Iran, with at least 811 executions recorded over the past year. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of Iran Human Rights, reiterated concerns over the ineffectiveness of capital punishment as a deterrent for drug crimes. “Executions have never prevented drug-related crimes. We hope that President Tharman will issue a pardon to save Masoud’s life,” he said.

Last Acts of Compassion Denied

Rahimi’s family has earlier also expressed disappointment over the denial of their requests for a final video call between him and his father, who resides overseas and is unable to travel to Singapore in time. Despite numerous appeals to the Singapore Prison Service, this last act of compassion was refused. Advocates argue that Rahimi’s youth at the time of his arrest, his struggles with adjustment, and the lack of consular support represent mitigating factors that should have been considered.

Global Debate on Capital Punishment

The case has reignited international discussions about the ethics of the death penalty, particularly in cases involving young offenders or dual citizens. Sotoudeh’s letter stressed the potential of clemency to signal Singapore’s commitment to compassion and justice. “I am hopeful, trusting in the respect your nation holds in the international community and your alignment with the values of global civilization, to make such a request,” she wrote. Meanwhile, human rights groups continue to call for a moratorium on executions globally, emphasising that justice should not come at the expense of human life.