France Requests Prisoner Transfer of Serge Atlaoui from Indonesia
Lamseen – Indonesia has officially received a request from France to transfer Serge Atlaoui, a 61-year-old French national on death row. Indonesian authorities imprisoned Atlaoui in 2004 on drug charges, accusing him of working as a “chemist” in a drug manufacturing operation.
Senior Indonesian law and human rights minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra confirmed the request, stating, “We have received a formal letter requesting the transfer of Serge Atlaoui on 19 December 2024. The letter was sent on behalf of the French minister of justice.”
The Indonesian government plans to discuss the request in early January, following the holiday season. Atlaoui, who has spent nearly 20 years in prison, previously faced execution by a 13-member firing squad but received a last-minute reprieve in 2015. His exclusion from the execution list granted him a temporary lease on life, but his case has remained a point of contention between Indonesia and France.
Serge Atlaoui, a 61-year-old French death row inmate in Indonesia, has made a last-ditch plea to return to his home country. The request coincides with the new administration of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announcing plans to pardon 44,000 inmates nationwide.
Atlaoui, a father of four who recently turned 61 and is reportedly battling cancer, wrote to the Indonesian government requesting to serve the remainder of his sentence in France. Senior Indonesian law and human rights minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra confirmed the plea, adding that Atlaoui’s case remains in its early stages.
“We are forwarding a personal request from Serge Atlaoui to the Indonesian government, which should, of course, involve the French government, as this concerns the transfer of a prisoner,” Mahendra stated during a joint press conference with French Ambassador Fabien Penone.
Police arrested Atlaoui in 2005 for allegedly working in a factory producing MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, near Jakarta. Indonesian authorities accused him of serving as a “chemist,” but his lawyers argued he was hired as a welder and did not know the purpose of the chemicals on site.
Mahendra clarified that the French government has not yet submitted a formal request regarding Atlaoui’s transfer, despite his personal appeal. The minister emphasized that such cases require extensive deliberation and will take time to resolve.
French Ambassador Penone said he received a briefing on the case during his meeting with Mahendra and is actively collaborating with the Indonesian government.
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Serge Atlaoui, a French national from Metz, has spent 19 years in Indonesian prison, maintaining his innocence throughout his incarceration. Police arrested Atlaoui in 2005, and he claims he was hired to install machinery in what he believed was an acrylics factory. Indonesian authorities, however, accused him of working as a “chemist” in a facility manufacturing MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy.
The Indonesian Supreme Court increased Atlaoui’s life imprisonment sentence to the death penalty in 2007 following an appeal. This escalation has kept his case in the spotlight, drawing significant attention in France, a country that opposes the death penalty in “all places and under all circumstances.”
France has long advocated for clemency in Atlaoui’s case, citing its unwavering stance against capital punishment. The French government has worked diplomatically to secure leniency, with recent efforts including a request to transfer Atlaoui to France to serve the remainder of his sentence.
Atlaoui’s case highlights the broader tensions between Indonesia’s strict anti-drug policies and France’s strong opposition to the death penalty. His claims of innocence and the severity of his sentence have made his case a focal point in international human rights discussions.
As Indonesian authorities deliberate on his transfer request, the outcome could significantly impact diplomatic relations between the two nations. Atlaoui’s case serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges surrounding drug enforcement policies, justice, and the global debate on capital punishment.
France’s continued advocacy underscores its commitment to ending the death penalty worldwide, further amplifying the significance of this high-profile case. Both nations will closely watch and navigate the resolution of Atlaoui’s situation, given its sensitive and complex nature.
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