The Iranian government has formally requested the transfer of its nationals incarcerated in Indonesia so they can continue their sentences at home, according to Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Penitentiary Affairs.
“More than 50 Iranians are currently incarcerated in Indonesian prisons. While I have informed President Prabowo Subianto of the Iranian government’s letter, we have not yet decided on follow-up actions,” Coordinating Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said on Friday.
The Indonesian government will consider the transfers on a case-by-case basis, reviewing the legal history of each convict before deciding on follow-up measures, he stated.
Mahendra confirmed that there are currently no Indonesians lodged in Iranian prisons.
“There were two Indonesians imprisoned in Iran. However, they have received clemency from the Iranian President and returned to Indonesia,” he explained.
Regarding Serge Atlaoui, a death row inmate for drug offenses, Mahendra said the government is awaiting a formal request from France for his transfer.
Indonesia has received more requests from other countries to repatriate their nationals imprisoned on criminal charges, following the return of Mary Jane Veloso to the Philippines and the Bali Nine convicts to Australia last week.
Mahendra stated that the prisoner transfers were based on formal requests from their respective national authorities to the Indonesian government.
He revealed that Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese personally discussed the repatriations with President Prabowo.
“The requests were followed up through bilateral talks to establish practical arrangements for the transfers,” Mahendra said.
