Indonesia death row rises to 680, government says

Indonesia's death row population has risen to 680 people, government statistics showed on October 9, while a rights group warned that prisoners are being left for years not knowing whether they will be executed.

KontraS, an Indonesian rights group, said in a report released on October 9 that 639 people were on death row in April, including nine women. More than 400 were held for drug offences, the group said.

Indonesia has not carried out an execution since 2016, when it used a firing squad, but death sentences are still imposed for offences including drug trafficking, murder and violent robbery.

A criminal code that entered into force in 2026 makes the death penalty a punishment of last resort. It says no execution should take place within 10 years of sentencing, after which a prisoner can have the sentence commuted to life imprisonment for good behaviour.

KontraS urged the government to end cruel and inhuman punishment practices and protect people from death sentences and executions. The office of UN rights chief Volker Turk said this month there were multiple reasons to abolish the death penalty.