Singapore court dismisses challenge to mandatory death penalty for drug crimes

Singapore’s High Court dismissed on Tuesday the first legal challenge in years to the city state’s mandatory death penalty for certain drug crimes, a blow for campaigners in a year that has seen executions peak. Human rights activists and relatives of three executed drug convicts had petitioned the court, arguing that the mandatory death penalty violates parts of Singapore’s constitution guaranteeing the right to life and equal protection under the law. They also said legislation restricts...