EU says ‘completely opposed’ to Frenchman’s death sentence in Indonesia

The EU on Thursday attacked the death sentence imposed on a Frenchman in Indonesia, which is expected to be carried out shortly, saying it was no answer to drug trafficking. Frenchman Serge Atlaoui lost his final appeal against his death sentence earlier this week. The Indonesian government said earlier Thursday it had ordered officials to make preparations to execute a group of drug convicts, most of them foreigners, amid mounting international criticism.

The European Union is completely opposed to the death penalty. It cannot be the answer to drug trafficking.

EU president Donald Tusk

There have been especially sharp exchanges between France and Indonesia in recent days over Atlaoui’s fate, with Paris saying his trial had not been properly conducted. Ten convicts - from Australia, France, Brazil, the Philippines, Nigeria, Ghana and Indonesia - will face the firing squad after losing appeals for presidential clemency.

Politics