Happy Deepavali to all our Hindu supporters! Thank you for helping us to reach 50K signatures. On this momentous day, our campaign to #SaveNagaenthran has garnered a significant amount of attention worldwide.

The Washington Post has detailed the hardships faced by both Nagaenthran and his family as a result of the Singapore government’s callous actions, while several human rights organisations have released declarations unequivocally condemning the Singapore government’s decision to execute Nagaenthran. These include the International Federation for Human Rights, the American Psychological Association's Division of Social Justice, Transformative Justice Collective (TJC), and Think Centre Singapore. 

Harm Reduction International and the International Drug Policy Consortium, alongside 27 organisations and networks, have also issued a joint statement urging the Singaporean Government to immediately halt the impending execution of Nagaenthran. Additionally, they have called on UN entities, the European Union, and all relevant stakeholders to take urgent action.

Furthermore, TODAY, Mothership, and Malay Mail have reported on the Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MHA) response to our petition to #SaveNagaenthran. According to MHA, the Court of Appeal is adamant that Nagaenthran is mentally “not substantially” impaired, insisting that his actions reveal the “the working of a criminal mind”.

In response to MHA's “cruel and inhumane” statement, anti-death penalty activist Kirsten Han reminds us that under international standards, Nagaenthran’s intellectual disabilities should in and of themselves be sufficient grounds for him to be spared the death penalty. The Singapore Anti-Death Penalty Campaign has also expressed their perturbation over MHA's comments, pointing out that MHA has neglected to consider his borderline intellectual functioning, as well as the insensitive timing of his execution.

In a heart-wrenching and distressing facebook post, writer Kokila Annamalai, a kind soul from TJC who has been working closely with Naga’s family, describes the devastating effects that 12 years in isolation has had on Naga’s mental health: Due to the absence of any connection or stimulation, Naga has lost lucidity, become incoherent, and is no longer recognisable to his younger brother. 

Let’s reaffirm the spirit of Deepavali, the triumph of good over evil, by continuing to speak out against capital punishment. As the bearers of light, goodness, and hope, let us pledge to do everything in our powers to halt Nagaenthran’s imminent execution, and to ensure that darkness, evil and despair do not prevail this Deepavali season.

Pictured above: Nagaenthran with his elder sister Sarmila and two other relatives.

To support families like Nagaenthran's, please consider funding TJC's movement at this link.