February 13, 2026 | 07:18 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia is not moving to execute 12 Iranian death row inmates, as confirmed by Yusril Ihza Mahendra, the Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correction Affairs.
"For those who have been sentenced to death, we can ensure that the execution will not be moving forward," said Yusril in a written statement on Friday, February 13, 2026.
Instead of executing foreign nationals, the Indonesian government is open to repatriating the convicts, allowing them to serve their sentences in their respective home countries.
According to Yusril, a total of 54 Iranian citizens are currently facing legal troubles in Indonesia. But 12 of them have been given the death sentence, while some others were sentenced to life imprisonment.
Yusril also urged the Iranian authorities to promptly submit a list of their convicted nationals to be considered for repatriation from Indonesia. "This is the President's directive," said Yusril.
Based on Tempo's records, several Iranian nationals are facing drug-related charges, with 8 having been sentenced to death for smuggling 319 kilograms of methamphetamine through the southern waters of Banten.
The eight convicts are Ayub Wafa Salak, Wahid Baluch Kari, Abdol Aziz Barri, Abdul Rahman Zardkuhi, Usman Damani, Shahab Shahraki, Amir Naderi, and Wali Mohammad Paro. "Sentenced to death," said the chief of Serang District Court, Uli Purnama, as quoted from Antara.
Read: Death Penalty on the Decline in Southeast Asia
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