Why are we calling for a moratorium on the death penalty?

What would a moratorium on the death penalty mean, and why is that currently the focus of the #StopTheKilling campaign? Read this explainer to understand our strategy better.

Over the past year and a half, TJC has been rallying public support for a moratorium on the death penalty. We wanted to take this chance to share what a moratorium means, and why our #StopTheKilling campaign is focused on this demand.

What would a moratorium mean?

A moratorium on the death penalty means a suspension of all executions. It is a decision the Ministry of Home Affairs can make and announce, even while the death penalty stays on the books. It doesn’t require Parliament or the Courts to change/strike down current laws.

It means that while people may continue to be sentenced to death by the courts / stay incarcerated on death row, no executions will be carried out. It will immediately safeguard the lives of more than 50 people who are presently on death row, including people like Syed, Datch and Pannir, who face imminent risk of execution.

Why a Moratorium?

1. Declaring a moratorium on the death penalty is an important and easier first step towards abolition. Our call for moratorium includes the demand for an independent and transparent review of Singapore’s use of the death penalty and its impacts.
2. A moratorium would provide respite from the killings, offering a more conducive environment for public debate on the death penalty. Singaporeans should have the space for freer and more democratic discussions on the death penalty and how it is implemented in Singapore, supported by the findings of the independent review. By removing the high stakes of imminent executions, Singaporeans can take their time to build knowledge, gain clarity on the different dimensions of capital punishment in Singapore, and come to an informed, considered and responsible position on the issue.
3. A moratorium can be instituted quickly, while abolition is a longer process. It is also a lower ask, and therefore, we believe, easier for a wider segment of the public to find reasonable and support, or at least tolerate. A moratorium will also allow Singaporeans to experience what a Singapore without the death penalty could look like, without committing to full abolition right away.
4. A moratorium would also ensure that Singapore stops violating international law, which only allows the use of the death penalty under very narrow circumstances. Singapore’s use of the death penalty does not fit these requirements.