Singapore’s deadly drug war

 The government insists that the death penalty helps keep the country safe. But a spate of executions has caused alarm and triggered unprecedented protests in the city-state.

Authorities say the majority of Singapore’s residents support its zero-tolerance policy. But critics maintain that vulnerable people are being killed, leaving families devastated.

Malaysia: On Death Row

101 East investigates why plans to abolish the death penalty in Malaysia are causing controversy.

In Malaysian jails, more than 1,200 prisoners are on death row.

For them, news that the government was planning to abolish the death penaltyprovided a much-needed glimmer of hope.

"Let him come back," says Siti Zebedah, whose son has been on death row for 16 years. He was found guilty of trafficking 858 grams of cannabis in 2007 and sentenced to death.

"Let him take me to the mosque. I want to hold him," his mother says.

What Happens If Egypt Carries Out The Death Sentence For 529 Members of The Muslim Brotherhood

An Egyptian court has handed down a the death sentence against 529 members of the Muslim Brotherhood over the death of a policemen last August in violence following the removal of Muhammad Morsi as President.  If Egypt carries out the court's order does it then join the sick pantheon of authoritarian nations which have used mass murder to control their countrymen?  Or, will be seen as justice served by the community nations.

     A court in Egypt has sentenced to death more than 500 supporters of the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood following violence that broke out in the southern city of Minya last August. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry puts the number of those sentenced at 529.

A single policeman was killed.

Only 147 of the defendants were reportedly in court Monday. Sixteen people were also acquitted at the hearing. Another 683 defendants will appear before the same judge Tuesday in relation to the unrest.

 What happened in Minya?

A police officer was murdered during the pro-Morsy riots in Minya last August.

The violence followed a deadly crackdown by security forces on two Cairo sit-ins being held by supporters of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsy.

Morsy, Egypt's first democratically elected president, had been toppled in a military coup in July 2013.

Defense lawyer Khaled El-Komi told CNN the charges against the defendants appearing Tuesday include breaking into a police station, attempted murder, disturbing public peace and public order.