According to its latest annual report, Harm Reduction International revealed that a record-breaking 467 drug-related executions occurred in 2023. This marks a 44% increase from the previous year and accounted for 42% of all known death sentences worldwide. Despite China, Vietnam, and North Korea not disclosing their exact numbers, HRI confirmed executions for drug offenses in countries like Iran, Kuwait, and Singapore.
The use of the death penalty for drug crimes goes against international law, as drug offenses are not considered the most serious or intentional crimes. However, some countries, such as Singapore, have faced criticism for resuming executions after a brief hiatus during the pandemic. Singapore executed a total of 11 individuals in 2022 and at least 16 by November 2023, including Saridewi Djamani, the first woman to be executed in almost 20 years.
While some countries, such as Malaysia and Pakistan, have made strides in reforming their death penalty laws, others continue to sentence individuals to death for drug offenses. In Vietnam and Indonesia, confirmed death sentences for such crimes increased by over 20% in 2023. As of the end of the year, 34 countries still retain the death penalty for drug offenses.
In Singapore, over 50 individuals are currently on death row, with the majority convicted of drug-related crimes. Recent executions, like that of Bangladeshi national Ahmed Salim, have sparked international concern about the continued use of capital punishment for drug offenses. Despite the justifications put forth by authorities, human rights organizations continue to advocate against the use of the death penalty, especially for non-violent offenses like drug trafficking.