Joint Local Statement following two executions in Singapore

The EU Delegation and the diplomatic missions of the EU Member States, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom deplore the executions of two Singaporean citizens on 2 April 2026.

Seven executions have now been carried out in Singapore this year. 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, it is a definitive punishment that makes possible miscarriages of justice irreversible. 

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