News about our campaign to #SaveNagaenthran is spreading like wildfire across the globe. What initially started as a grassroots movement has flourished into a global crusade, receiving the attention of prominent international human rights organisations.

Human Rights Watch has condemned the Singapore government’s determination to execute Nagaenthran as being “disproportionate and cruel”, while Amnesty International has implored Singapore to halt its “despicable and unlawful execution” of Nagaenthran. Furthermore, the Commonwealth Lawyers Association has called on the Singapore government to adhere to international standards and to uphold its Constitution, and has exhorted the President to exercise her clemency powers. 

Overseas news outlets including The Times, Associated Press News, ABC News, The Indian Express, The West Australian, Latestly, The Titusville Herald, and TVI24 have provided media coverage on our campaign to #SaveNagaenthran. Additionally, a comprehensive Wikipedia article chronicling the facts of Nagaenthran’s arrest, conviction and scheduled execution has been published overnight. 

Here is an excerpt from the AP News article:

[Nagaenthran’s] older sister, Sarmila Dharmalingam, said the family cried and wailed when they were informed of the execution on Oct. 26. Initially she kept it a secret from her mother, who at 59 still works as a cleaner and has health problems.

On Tuesday, two days before the Hindu festival of Diwali, 10 family members finally surrounded her to explain about her son’s imminent execution. She is set to fly to Singapore on Friday and is to meet her son for the first time in nearly three years.

“Instead of celebrating (Diwali), we are crying and thinking about my brother and counting the days,” Sarmila, 35, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview on Thursday from northern Ipoh town. “He has been on death row for more than 10 years. Please give him a second chance and stop his execution.”

In Malaysia, Lawyers for Liberty has lambasted the “robotic response” from Singapore’s home ministry, asserting that MHA had deliberately ignored concerns over the mental state of Nagaenthran. Furthermore, lawyer Surendran warns that the passing of Nagaenthran’s execution would be a “permanent blot” on Singapore. You can access MHA’s full statement here.

Two days ago, activist Dhia Rezki also ran into trouble with the Malaysian authorities for holding a placard to raise awareness about Nagaenthran’s plight, and was escorted off a train to be interrogated by the auxiliary police.

It is five days till Nagaenthran’s scheduled execution, and three days till the constitutional challenge. May the light of justice, knowledge and righteousness illuminate the darkness of inequity in these last few days.