and prison sentences. A new law further Covid-19 restrictions continued to confine limited rights to freedom of expression, low-income migrant workers to cramped peaceful assembly and association. dormitories and workplaces. In November, FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION the UN CERD Committee reviewed the government’s report and recommended Political leaders continued to use defamation stronger protections for migrant workers, suits to silence critics. In February, blogger including female domestic workers. and activist Leong Sze Han was ordered to pay SGD133,000 (US$99,000) in damages LGBTI PEOPLE’S RIGHTS after being sued by the Prime Minister. Leong In January, a transgender student alleged Sze Han had shared a news article on social that the Ministry of Education prevented her media linking Lee Hsien Loong to a from receiving prescribed hormone corruption scandal. In September, Terry Xu replacement therapy. Three students, who and Rubaashini Shunmuganathan from the were arrested in January for protesting independent news site,The Online Citizen, against discrimination against LGBTI+ people were also found guilty of defamation against in schools, were released on bail. In the Prime Minister and ordered to pay November, they and three others were issued SGD210,000 (US$156,138). Later that with police warnings for staging a protest month, The Online Citizen was forced to without a permit.3 close its website and social media accounts DEATH PENALTY after the government accused it of failing to declare its funding sources. In November, There was international outcry against the Terry Xu and Daniel de Costa were found planned execution in November of Malaysian guilty of defamation against cabinet members national Nagaenthran Dharmalingam who and were awaiting sentencing at year’s end. was sentenced to the mandatory death In October, parliament passed the Foreign penalty for drug trafficking. He was assessed Interference (Countermeasures) Act (FICA) to have intellectual disabilities. His appeal 4 giving the government sweeping new powers, was still pending at year’s end. including to remove or block access to online content if “foreign interference” is suspected. 1. “Singapore: Foreign interference law is a tool for crushing dissent”, 5 The law also introduced harsh penalties for October media outlets and others considered as 2. “Singapore: Quash conviction and sentence of human rights defender 1 “foreign agents”. Jolovan Wham”, 15 February FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY 3. Singapore: Cease Investigation of Peaceful Activists and Respect Transgender Rights (ASA 36/3643/2021), 8 February In February, human rights defender Jolovan 4. “Singapore: Halt ‘despicable’ and unlawful execution of Malaysian Wham was convicted of breaching the Public national”, 4 November Order Act and the Vandalism Act for peaceful protests in 2017 against violations of human 2 rights. He served 22 days in prison. In SLOVAKIA August, Jolovan Wham appeared in court again on charges related to an incident in Slovak Republic 2018 when he took a photo of himself Head of state: Zuzana Čaputová holding a poster outside a court where Terry Head of government: Eduard Heger Xu and Daniel de Costa were on trial. The authorities continued to impose MIGRANTS’ RIGHTS mandatory quarantines on Roma A woman was sentenced to 30 years’ settlements in response to Covid-19. There imprisonment in June for starving, torturing were ongoing concerns over an investigation and killing her domestic worker in 2016. into excessive use of force against Roma Amnesty International Report 2021/22 326