Richard Branson has refused a live broadcast debate on Singapore's drug policies and the death sentence with Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam.
"A televised discussion — restricted in time and scale, and always at risk of prioritizing people over concepts — cannot do justice to the complexities of the death sentence," Branson said in a blog post published on Sunday.
It lowers complicated dialogue to soundbites and transforms serious discussion into a show. "I find it difficult to believe that is what you seek," he said.
Earlier last month, Singapore extended an invitation to Branson after he criticized the city-state for being "on the wrong side of history" due to its usage of the death sentence. This year, he had emphasized the execution of convicted Malaysian drug trafficker Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam, which drew widespread condemnation over his mental competence.
Branson reiterated his opposition to the death penalty on Sunday, stating that Singapore needs to engage in a meaningful, long-term dialogue with diverse stakeholders, including local voices, over the matter.
"There is no evidence to warrant the ongoing existence of (the death penalty)," he stated.
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