Joint Local Statement following an execution in Singapore

The EU Delegation and the diplomatic missions of the EU Member States, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom deplore the execution of a 62-year-old Singaporean that was carried out on 13 February 2026.

This is already the fifth execution in Singapore in 2026. In keeping with our consistent strong and principled stance against the death penalty, we oppose the use of capital punishment in all cases and in all circumstances. 

The death penalty is incompatible with the inalienable right to life and the absolute prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment. Moreover, imposing the death penalty for drug offences is incompatible with international law, as these offences do not meet the threshold of “most serious crimes”.

The available evidence does not support the use of capital punishment as a deterrent to crime. Furthermore, rehabilitation as an objective of modern criminal law is rendered impossible by the application of capital punishment.

We will continue to work for the abolition of the death penalty in the few countries that still apply it, and we advocate for Singapore to adopt a moratorium on all executions as a first step towards its full abolition, in line with the regional and worldwide trend.

Joint Local Statement following an execution on 13 February 2026