The Malaysian was convicted of trafficking in 42.72gm of diamorphine (heroin) in 2011 after his arrest in 2009. His sentence has been upheld after numerous appeals.

Harm Reduction International, the International Network of People who Use Drugs and the International Drug Policy Consortium, alongside 27 other organisations and networks, called on organisations like the United Nations and blocs like the European Union to act on their own to stop Nagaenthran‘s execution and commute his death sentence.

“The use of the death penalty for drug offences is a clear violation of international human rights as well as drug control standards, as reiterated by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Human Rights Council, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the International Narcotics Control Board.

“Contrary to the government’s claims, there is no proof that the death penalty has a unique deterrent effect on drug use or trafficking,” they said in a joint statement.

The groups said the use of the death penalty and, more generally, punitive drug policies worked to deepen stigma and discrimination against people who used drugs, and entrenched cycles of poverty and marginalisation.

“As more countries move away from using the death penalty as a tool of drug control, research by Harm Reduction International shows Singapore is one of few countries that regularly sentence individuals to death for drug offences,” they said.

They also cited Nagaenthran’s mental health issues and intellectual disability, as it had been reported that he suffered from ADHD and had an IQ of 69.

“In addition, the imposition of capital punishment against persons with mental or intellectual disabilities is prohibited by international law and a violation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Singapore ratified,” they said.

The signatories stem from a range of countries, both from around the region like Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand, and from as far away as Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Hungary.