Faith & Freedom: Singapore arrests British author of death penalty book

Mr Shadrake wrote the book Once a Jolly Hangman: Singapore Justice on the Dock, which includes an interview with Darshan Singh, the long-time chief executioner at Singapore's Changi Prison, who has since retired.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | UK Desk
Source & Credit: BBC | News | July 19, 2010

British author Alan Shadrake outside Singapore court in undated handout photo Alan Shadrake has written a book about Singapore's use of the death penalty

Singapore's police have said they arrested a British author, Alan Shadrake, as part of a criminal defamation investigation.

The arrest of 75-year old Mr Shadrake came while he was in Singapore to promote his book.

The book, about the use of the death penalty, includes an interview with a former hangman.

Singapore's government routinely limits freedom of expression, including a recent film about a political detainee.

"Police confirm that they have arrested British national Alan Shadrake. He is being investigated for alleged offences of criminal defamation and other offences," a police statement said.

"Alan Shadrake has also been served with an application by the attorney-general for an order of committal for contempt of court," the statement added.


Expecting trouble

Mr Shadrake wrote the book Once a Jolly Hangman: Singapore Justice on the Dock, which includes an interview with Darshan Singh, the long-time chief executioner at Singapore's Changi Prison, who has since retired.

Former police officers, human rights activists and lawyers were also interviewed for the book.

The government told the BBC last week that the book had not been banned but that the government had the right to advise book stores not to stock it.

Mr Shadrake told AFP news agency before his arrest that he expected trouble.

"If they do anything, it'll just draw more attention to it all, and they have no defence," he said.

The death penalty is mandatory for murder, treason and drug-trafficking, among other crimes in Singapore.
Film banned

Separately, Singapore has banned a movie made by a local film-maker about a human rights activist, saying the film was not in the public interest.

Martyn See's film about former political detainee Lim Hock Siew features Mr Siew making a rare public speech about why he believes he was unfairly jailed.

He was detained from 1963 for two decades as part of an operation that the government said was to end communist influence in Singapore.

Amnesty International says Singapore has a history of using laws which allow for civil defamation actions to stifle political opposition.

Singapore is one of the wealthiest countries in South East Asia.

It is also known for the conservatism of its leaders and its strict social controls.

The government has consistently maintained that its laws are necessary to protect to guarantee Singapore's political stability.



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