France Requests Transfer of Death Row Inmate Serge Atlaoui from Indonesia

The 61-year-old Frenchman, imprisoned since 2005 for drug-related charges, awaits a decision on his transfer request to serve his sentence in France.

Serge Atlaoui, a French national, was sentenced to death in Indonesia in 2007 for his alleged role in a drug manufacturing operation, though he maintains his innocence.
France officially submitted a transfer request on December 19, 2024, seeking to have Atlaoui serve his sentence in his home country.
Indonesian authorities plan to discuss the transfer request in early January 2025, following the holiday period.
Atlaoui narrowly avoided execution in 2015 after diplomatic efforts by France led to a temporary reprieve, allowing his appeal to proceed.
Indonesia, known for its strict drug laws, recently repatriated other foreign inmates, raising hopes for Atlaoui’s case as discussions continue.