UN chief urges Indonesia not to execute 10 people on death row for drug crimes

The Secretary-General appealed today to the Government of Indonesia to refrain from carrying out the execution, as announced, of ten prisoners on death row for alleged drug-related crimes.

According to a statement released today by his Spokesperson, the Secretary-General recalled that under international law, if the death penalty is to be used at all, it should only be imposed for the most serious crimes, namely those involving intentional killing, and only with appropriate safeguards.

Drug-related offenses generally are not considered to fall under the category of “most serious crimes,” said the Spokesperson's statement adding that the United Nations opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and concluding with a call by the Secretary-General on President Joko Widodo of Indonesia to urgently consider declaring a moratorium on capital punishment in Indonesia, with a view toward abolition.