Britain’s Branson turns down Singapore’s offer to debate death penalty: ‘it reduces nuanced discourse to sound bites’
- The Virgin Group founder said he had felt ‘compelled to speak out’ about executions in the city state after the hanging of Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam
- But he declined Singapore’s invitation to take part in a televised discussion on the subject as he felt it would turn ‘serious debate into spectacle’
In a statement posted on his blog on Monday and addressed to Shanmugam, Branson said a televised debate “cannot do the complexity of the death penalty any service” as it “reduces nuanced discourse to sound bites” and “turns serious debate into spectacle”.
“I can’t imagine that is what you are looking for. What Singapore really needs is a constructive, lasting dialogue involving multiple stakeholders, and a true commitment to transparency and evidence,” Branson said.
The Ministry of Home Affairs had on October 22 rebutted several statements made by the Virgin Group’s founder regarding Singapore’s drug laws.
Singapore invites UK billionaire Richard Branson to death penalty debate
In his latest post, Branson said he felt “compelled to speak out when I see things go as horribly wrong as Singapore’s use of the death penalty” out of his “enormous respect for Singapore and Singaporeans and for everything your country has achieved over the last decades”.
He said there are many Singaporeans, including lawyers, human rights defenders, civil society organisations, and others, who have consistently expressed the same concerns, and added “this conversation needs local voices”.
“In Singapore’s case, we have been inspired by several people and organisations – advocates, lawyers, journalists – with experience, knowledge and data,” Branson said.
“The brave thing for you would be to actively engage those Singaporean stakeholders, from Transformative Justice Collective to Mr M Ravi, Nagaenthran Dharmalingam’s courageous lawyer, and regional voices, such as the Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network, and treat them as equals who are just as interested in Singapore’s progress as I’m sure you are. They deserve to be listened to, not ignored, or worse yet, harassed.”
If Singapore abolishes the death penalty, I’d be absolutely delighted and will celebrate with you
The British billionaire also rebutted the notion that the abolition of the death penalty is a Western concept imposed on the rest of the world.
Instead, he said it “is about universal human rights and humanity’s shared aspiration to advance equality, justice, dignity, and freedom everywhere, for everyone”.
“If Singapore abolishes the death penalty, I’d be absolutely delighted and will celebrate with you,” Branson said.
“I hope you … will eventually realise that it’s an inhumane, brutal practice that does not save lives – and casts a dark shadow on Singapore’s reputation in the world. There is no evidence to support its continued existence. Just ask those in Singapore who know.”
