Key Points:

• Serge Atlaoui, sentenced to death in Indonesia since 2007 for drug offenses, is set to return to France on February 4.
• The repatriation agreement was signed remotely by Indonesian and French justice ministers.
• Atlaoui's health has declined significantly, prompting his request for transfer and discussions of clemency upon return.

Serge Atlaoui, a French national who has spent nearly 20 years on death row in Indonesia, is expected to be repatriated to France following an agreement between the two nations. Indonesian senior law and human rights minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra announced the deal on January 24, stating that Atlaoui's transfer would allow his return home on February 4. This development comes after Atlaoui, 61, has endured declining health, reportedly suffering from cancer, while incarcerated since his arrest in 2005 at a drug factory near Jakarta. He has long maintained his innocence, arguing that he was merely installing machinery in what he believed was an acrylics plant, rather than being involved in drug production.

The agreement was signed via video conference between ministers from both countries, highlighting a committed effort to enhance legal cooperation and reinforce bilateral relations, according to French Ambassador to Indonesia Fabien Penone. This follows a period during which Indonesia has released several high-profile detainees, including a Filipina woman and members of the notorious Bali Nine drug ring, underscoring a recent trend in Indonesian judicial proceedings.

Atlaoui’s case has drawn significant attention in France, where there is strong opposition to the death penalty. Activists have celebrated the recent transfer decision, with many advocating for clemency upon his return. As noted by his lawyer, Richard Sédillot, the conclusion of this process offers relief to both Atlaoui and his family, who have faced uncertainty and anxiety amid postponed discussions surrounding his fate. Indonesia has some of the strictest drug laws in the world and has executed numerous foreigners for drug-related offenses in the past, with approximately 530 individuals still on death row in the country.

Upon his return to France, the French government will have complete authority over Atlaoui’s legal situation and any potential clemency measures. Mahendra stated that while Indonesia has suspended executions since 2016, the nation holds the right to implement such actions under its laws. The global community will be watching closely as this case evolves after Atlaoui's lengthy ordeal on Indonesia's death row, an experience described as harrowing by human rights advocates. For more details, visit AP News, The Guardian, or Le Monde.