JAKARTA: The number of death sentences in Indonesia continues to rise over the years, making the Southeast Asian country a significant contributor to the death sentence figure globally as recorded executions hit their highest level since 2015.
A new report titled “Death Sentences and Executions 2024”, released on Tuesday (April 8) by human rights group Amnesty International, records 1,518 executions globally last year, a 32 percent increase from the 1,153 in 2023 and the highest number the world has seen since 2015, with 1,634 executions.
Despite the rise in executions, only 15 countries executed their death row convicts last year, the lowest number on record for the second consecutive year, the group noted, adding that 113 countries are fully abolitionist and 145 in total have abolished the death penalty in law or practice.
“With just 15 countries carrying out executions in 2024 [...] this signals a move away from this cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment,” said Amnesty International’s secretary-general Agnès Callamard.
While Indonesia has not proceeded with executions since 2016, new death penalties continue to be given every year.
Last year, courts across the country sentenced 85 criminals to death, 64 of whom were involved in drug-related offenses and the remaining 21 sentenced for murder.
The number is part of a total of over 28,000 convicts around the world slated for execution through 2024.
Amnesty International Indonesia executive director Usman Hamid said Indonesia must quickly learn from its neighbour Malaysia, which who abolished the mandatory death penalty for serious offences in 2023.
“By choosing abolition or elimination of the death penalty, Indonesia can realise a justice system that is fair, humane and in line with the global trend of ending the death penalty,” Usman said. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
