The United Nations Human Rights Office has called on Singapore to halt the planned execution of Rosman bin Abdullah, a 55-year-old man sentenced to death for drug-related offences. Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), urged the government to commute his sentence to imprisonment. Rosman, convicted in 2010 for trafficking 57 grams of diamorphine, received the mandatory death penalty. His appeals, including a petition for clemency, have been rejected. The execution, scheduled for Friday, 22 November 2024, would be the third for drug offences in Singapore this month and the eighth in Singapore this year. Shamdasani criticised the use of capital punishment for drug-related offences, calling it incompatible with international human rights law. She cited growing evidence that the death penalty is ineffective as a deterrent and urged Singapore to review its stance in line with the global shift toward abolition. OHCHR noted that experts have been in touch with the Singapore Government about this case, including a letter in 2022, to which the Government replied. “Resorting to this type of punishment to prevent drug trafficking is not only illegal under international law, it is also ineffective. There is a lack of any persuasive evidence that the death penalty contributes more than any other punishment to curbing or preventing drug trafficking,” the experts said. “There is a need to move from a reliance on criminal law and to take a human rights-based approach in relation to drug use and drug use disorders,” they added. “We urgently call on the Singaporean authorities to halt the execution of Mr Rosman bin Abdullah and commute his death sentence to imprisonment consistent with international human rights law and standards,” the experts said. Rosman’s case has drawn attention for his lengthy 14-year incarceration on death row, the longest in Singapore’s history. Advocacy groups, including the Transformative Justice Collective (TJC), have criticised the conditions of his confinement and the broader implications of the state’s actions. Last Friday, Singapore executed two other death row prisoners, including a 39-year-old Malaysian and a 53-year-old Singaporean. Like Rosman, they had been on death row for over a decade. Advocates argue this prolonged wait, combined with the imminent threat of execution, constitutes psychological torture. TJC noted significant concerns about the intellectual disabilities of recent death row inmates. Psychiatric assessments revealed that Rosman suffers from cognitive impairments linked to undiagnosed ADHD, childhood neglect, and abuse. These factors, advocates argue, limited his ability to fully comprehend the consequences of his actions. A Malaysian man executed last week reportedly had an IQ of 67, indicating intellectual disability, while his Singaporean co-defendant was assessed as having limited cognitive capacity. Despite these findings, Singapore’s legal system proceeded with their executions. Rosman’s case has also been marked by controversy involving his treatment by state institutions. A court ruling in October found that prison authorities and the Attorney-General’s Chambers had unlawfully accessed and forwarded private letters from death row inmates, including Rosman. Despite this breach, no significant redress was offered, and Rosman received only S$10 in nominal damages. In a poignant letter shared by TJC, Rosman’s niece described his resilience and optimism despite years of solitary confinement. TJC also published Rosman’s reflections on his plight, where he lamented the lack of proportional justice for low-level drug offenders like himself, who often serve as runners rather than kingpins. Amidst international scrutiny, activists have urged President Tharman Shanmugaratnam to intervene by granting clemency. Rosman’s supporters argue that his case merits further consideration, particularly given the psychological and legal complexities involved. As Rosman’s execution looms, the UN Human Rights Office and advocacy groups continue to call for a reassessment of Singapore’s use of the death penalty. The growing international consensus against capital punishment underscores the urgency of their plea.   https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2024/11/21/un-human-rights-office-urges-singapore-to-halt-execution-of-death-row-inmate-with-intellectual-disabilities/

HEBEI, CHINA: Authorities in Hebei Province, China, have confirmed a disturbing incident in which a vehicle ran over a person in Baoding’s Xushui District (徐水区). The 32-year-old female suspect, named Tian, has reportedly surrendered herself to the police, although she has not fully confessed, meaning her case has not yet been classified as a self-surrender. On Wednesday (20 November), social media platforms were flooded with videos showing the chilling event. Footage shows an individual lying on the road covered in mud, while a white SUV reverses and runs over the person. The driver is seen briefly poking their head out of the window before continuing the action, with the vehicle also moving forward and running over the victim again. A voice in the footage can be heard saying, “She’s run over him five times already, and still keeps going—this is madness.” A second video revealed the same SUV driving back and forth over the injured person, but the vehicle’s license plate was not visible.   Reports indicate the incident occurred in a rural area, though witnesses confirmed that neither the driver nor the victim were local to the village. The woman allegedly involved in the incident hails from Xihe Mountain, located 15 kilometers from the site of the attack. Though she has been arrested, the police have not yet given an official confirmation that she is guilty of the crime. According to a statement released by the Xushui District Public Security Bureau, the incident occurred at approximately 9 am on 20 November, leading to one confirmed fatality. Tian was later taken into custody. Violent attacks in China surge This tragic incident is part of a larger, worrying trend in China of violent and indiscriminate attacks, with social media users estimating as many as 25 similar occurrences since the beginning of this year alone. In response to these attacks, Chinese authorities have stepped up security measures in public spaces, while simultaneously tightening censorship over social media, a move that has triggered backlash from citizens who demand greater transparency. A growing concern over these attacks and the government’s response has drawn attention to China’s ongoing struggles with censorship. Authorities’ censorship of attack contents online fuels outrage While the Chinese authorities focus on maintaining stability and control, critics argue that such measures often contribute to social isolation and stifle avenues for resolving grievances. One of the most shocking recent events was the mass killing in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, on 11 November, where a driver rammed into a crowd at a sports centre, killing 35 people and injuring 43 others. Despite calls for transparency, authorities ramped up censorship, removing sensitive content related to the attack and blocking survivors’ accounts. This has reignited criticism of the government’s approach to managing sensitive incidents. This pattern of censorship, aimed at controlling the narrative and maintaining social order, has sparked outrage, particularly among citizens who seek more openness from their government.   https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2024/11/21/woman-in-hebei-china-runs-over-victim-5-times-with-suv-resulting-in-death/

GUANGZHOU, CHINA: An elderly man was shot dead by police in Guangzhou’s Liwan District on 19th November after allegedly brandishing a knife in a public space. Eyewitnesses and circulating videos suggest the fatal confrontation unfolded outside a card room on Xihua Road. According to witness accounts, the elderly man was observed swinging a knife at passersby and police officers, prompting a tense standoff. Police officers reportedly fired three shots during the incident, with one bystander heard shouting “Shoot him!” in Cantonese. Following the gunfire, the man appeared to collapse at the scene. Footage captured by local residents shows the elderly individual, described as slender with long grey hair and wearing a shirt, visibly agitated as he faced at least four police officers. At one point, he was seen sitting on the ground holding the knife before standing up and shouting at the officers, who then opened fire.   After the incident, the area was cordoned off, and the man was covered with a blue cloth before being transported on a stretcher under police supervision. Emergency services, including an ambulance and several police vehicles, were present on standby throughout the unfolding situation. Authorities remain silent on Guangzhou shooting, while social media content faces heavy censorship As of now, no official statement has been issued by local authorities regarding the tragic incident. Content related to the incident on Chinese social media has reportedly been censored, and The Paper, a local news outlet, initially reported the event before retracting the article. China’s authorities have reportedly been tightening security in public spaces and actively censoring online content related to indiscriminate attacks following a surge in mass incidents over the past three months. The latest attack occurred on Tuesday (19 November), when a car struck primary school students arriving for classes, leaving several injured. On 11 November, a deadly incident in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, saw a driver ram his car into a crowd at a sports centre, killing 35 people and injuring 43 others. In a separate attack on 16 November 2024, a knife assault at the Wuxi Vocational Institute of Arts and Technology in Jiangsu province resulted in eight deaths and 17 injuries. While Chinese authorities prioritise stability and control, critics argue that pervasive censorship may contribute to social isolation and restrict opportunities for addressing grievances.   https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2024/11/21/elderly-man-shot-dead-by-police-after-knife-confrontation-in-guangzhou-china/

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Man in Korea kills woman who requested breakup after dating for 19 days Earlier this year, a 22-year-old man in South Korea killed a woman he had been dating for 19 days after she tried to break up with him. According to Yonhap News, a judge sentenced him to life imprisonment for the crime on 21 Nov. Source: JoongAng Daily Spurred man stabs woman 58 times A report from JoongAng Daily earlier this year states the woman could no longer put up with the man’s explicit sexual demands. After she requested that they break up, the man visited his 20-year-old victim at her apartment in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province at around 11.20pm on 7 June this year.   He lured her out of her apartment and then proceeded to stab her multiple times, according to Hankook Ilbo. The autopsy indicated that he stabbed her 58 times in the face, neck, and abdomen. He left her in a bloody mess and fled the scene. Police rapidly responded to reports of the stabbing and were able to arrest him a mere 10 minutes later. The woman was quickly conveyed to the hospital but perished due to her severe wounds. Source: Chosun Daily Man claims he’s suffering from mental episode When faced with the charges, the man claimed he was suffering a mental episode. Despite being diagnosed with schizophrenia, a psychiatric evaluation showed the man was of sound mind when he committed his crime. As a result, the court refuted his arguments.   The judge sentenced the man to life imprisonment. Additionally, he also ordered an electronic tracking device to be placed on the man for the next 20 years. Elaborating on the harsh sentence, the judge stated that although the man admitted to the crime, he showed no remorse for his actions as he tried to shift the blame onto his victim. While defending his crime, the man claimed his victim made disparaging remarks about his appearance. Furthermore, the man had fled the scene without providing aid to his victim and even tried to use mental illness as an excuse.   Considering this, the judge handed the man a life sentence so that he could repent while isolated from society for the rest of his life.   https://mustsharenews.com/man-breakup-19-days/