• Indonesia signs agreement to repatriate two British nationals from death row.
• Lindsay Sandiford, sentenced to death in 2013, is seriously ill.
• Shahab Shahabadi, serving a life sentence, also suffers health issues.
• The transfer is expected to take place within two weeks.
• Indonesia maintains some of the toughest drug laws globally with many foreigners on death row.

On October 21, Indonesia signed an agreement to repatriate two British nationals, including 69-year-old Lindsay Sandiford, who has been on death row for over a decade following her conviction for drug trafficking. The Indonesian government's action follows recent trends of releasing high-profile drug offenders. Sandiford was sentenced to death in 2013 after customs officers discovered cocaine valued at approximately $2.14 million concealed in her luggage when she arrived in Bali from Thailand. She claimed she carried the drugs to protect her son from threats by a drug syndicate, as reported by Channel News Asia and The Jakarta Post.

Alongside Sandiford, Shahab Shahabadi, 35, who was arrested on drug charges in 2014 and is currently serving a life sentence, is also included in the repatriation agreement. Both individuals are reportedly suffering from serious health issues. Sandiford's condition, in particular, has been described as grave, leading to discussions of her transfer to the UK after arrangements are finalized. The Indonesian government stated the technical details of the transfer could take about two weeks to complete, according to Le Monde and BBC.

Both prisoners' cases have drawn significant media attention, particularly Sandiford's, who has been vocal about her fears of execution. In 2015, she expressed her anxiety in a letter published in the British press, detailing her emotional distress and stating, "My execution is imminent, and I know I might die at any time now," highlighting the psychological toll of her situation. She also made a poignant reference to singing Perry Como’s "Magic Moments" during her last moments, as reported by CBS News and corroborated by multiple sources.

Indonesia remains strict in its enforcement of drug laws, having some of the harshest penalties globally, with many foreign nationals still on death row for similar offenses. Recently, the Indonesian government indicated a potential resumption of executions, as the situation for those imprisoned remains precarious. The repatriation of Sandiford and Shahabadi marks a notable shift in the treatment of foreign drug offenders in the country under President Prabowo Subianto's administration, which has shown a willingness to negotiate the return of prisoners to their home countries, according to Le Monde and confirmed by The Jakarta Post.