Joint Local Statement on the death penalty case of Hamzah bin Ibrahim in Singapore

Joint Local Statement on the death penalty case of Hamzah bin Ibrahim in Singapore

The Delegation of the European Union issues the following statement, together with the diplomatic missions of the EU Member States and the diplomatic missions of Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom in Singapore:

The EU Delegation and the diplomatic missions of the EU Member States and of Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom call on the Singapore authorities to halt the execution of Mr Hamzah bin Ibrahim and that of any co-accused, and to commute their sentences to non-capital sentences.

In keeping with our consistent strong and principled position against the death penalty, we oppose the use of capital punishment in all cases and in all circumstances and continue our active pursuit of its abolition worldwide.

The death penalty is incompatible with the inalienable right to life and the absolute prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment.

The death penalty fails to act as a deterrent to crime and makes possible miscarriages of justice irreversible.

Moreover, rehabilitation as an objective of modern criminal law is rendered impossible by the application of capital punishment.

We advocate for Singapore to adopt a moratorium on all executions as a first step towards its full abolition, in line with the worldwide trend.