Singapore’s leadership accused by HRW of human rights abuses under new administration

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s administration in Singapore has been accused of human rights abuses, including upholding the country’s severe death penalty policies and suppressing dissent through repressive laws. Human Rights Watch detailed these allegations in its World Report 2025, released on 16 January.

Wong, who assumed office in May 2024, has continued the city-state’s controversial practice of capital punishment, particularly for drug-related offences. In 2024 alone, nine individuals were executed for such crimes, including Mohamed Azwan bin Bohari, who was hanged on 4 October despite a pending appeal.

The United Nations Human Rights Office had called for the execution to be halted, but Singapore’s government proceeded. Another high-profile execution included Ahmed Salim, a Bangladeshi national, who was executed on 28 February for murder.

However, Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) refuted claims of impropriety, stating that the execution adhered to due legal process.

According to the MHA, Azwan was convicted of possessing 26.5 grams of pure heroin for trafficking, nearly double the threshold for the death penalty under the Misuse of Drugs Act. His appeal was dismissed in 2019, and clemency was denied in 2020 and 2022. Subsequent legal applications, including last-minute motions, were deemed unmeritorious by the courts, which concluded there was no basis to halt his execution.

The MHA also disputed allegations by activist groups, including the Transformative Justice Collective, that the government arbitrarily schedules executions and avoids bearing the burden of proof in drug cases. The ministry described these claims as “falsehoods” and invoked the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) to issue correction directions against the activists.

The government maintained that Azwan’s conviction was based on substantial evidence, including his admissions to the Central Narcotics Bureau that the drugs in his possession were intended for sale. The High Court found his defence of partial consumption to be lacking in detail and credibility.

Human Rights Watch Deputy Asia Director Bryony Lau highlighted the severity of these practices, stating, “Singapore’s government has entrenched its reputation as one of the few countries actively resisting the global trend towards abolishing the death penalty. These policies represent an affront to international human rights standards.”

The organisation also criticised the government’s use of restrictive laws, such as POFMA, to silence critics. Activists from the Transformative Justice Collective and advocate Kokila Annamalai were targeted for their anti-death penalty work, with authorities requiring them to post government-determined “corrections” to their statements.

Singapore has also cracked down on peaceful protests. On 27 June 2024, three activists were charged under the Public Order Act for organising a demonstration on 2 February 2024. The protest involved supporters of Palestine delivering letters to the previous prime minister, urging a cessation of ties with Israel. Authorities described their actions as a breach of public order laws.

The government’s actions reflect a broader effort to restrict freedoms of expression, association, and assembly. Critics argue that these measures serve to suppress dissent and maintain a tightly controlled political landscape.

Human Rights Watch has called on Singapore to implement a moratorium on executions and work towards abolishing the death penalty. Additionally, the organisation urged the government to repeal laws that infringe on basic freedoms and to respect the rights of its citizens to protest and express their views peacefully.

The World Report 2025 further contextualises these allegations within a global pattern of human rights violations. Across 100 countries, governments were reported to have cracked down on dissent, with authoritarian leaders using discriminatory rhetoric and policies to consolidate power. Singapore’s actions, under Prime Minister Wong’s leadership, place it firmly within this troubling trend.

International calls for reform in Singapore continue to grow. Advocacy groups and business partners have urged the government to reconsider its stance on human rights and align its policies with global norms. Whether these appeals will prompt meaningful change remains uncertain, as the city-state maintains its firm position on capital punishment and dissent.