Govt Comments on 20 Indonesian Death Row Inmates in Saudi Arabia  

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia`s Foreign Affairs Ministry announced that it will carry out the best attempt to plea for forgiveness of the 20 Indonesian citizens who are currently on death row in Saudi Arabia.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir said on Thursday, March 22, that death row inmates are in various stages of the trial. Some are still undergoing their initial court hearings and others have filed an appeal. Out of the 20 cases, some are charged with murder.

The Ministry will continue to provide the Indonesian citizens with legal assistance that still adheres to Saudi Arabia’s legal system, such as acquiring mercy from the families of the victims.

Read: 20 Indonesians on Saudi Death Row 5 Charged with Witchcraft

“They have to be forgiven by the victim’s family, this is what we are attempting to do, we are continuously approaching the victim’s families considering that whatever happens in court, nothing can free the defendants from the death penalty without acquiring their forgiveness. That is our focus,” said Arrmanatha in Jakarta.

Take an example of the recent death sentence of an Indonesian migrant worker (TKI) Zaini Misrin. Indonesian representatives in Saudi Arabia have visited the victim’s families several times in an attempt to bring together both the family of the victim and the defendant to acquire their forgiveness.

Read: Many Indonesian Citizens in Malaysia Face Death Sentence

“Saudi Arabia’s law states that in murder cases, [defendants] must acquire forgiveness from the victim’s family,” he said. “Unlike Indonesia in which forgiveness can be granted by the Head of State.”

Arrmanatha asserted that the foreign affairs ministry and Indonesian representative agencies in Saudi Arabia continues to provide assistance that corresponds to the country’s legal corridor. 

Suci Sekarwati