Jakarta – Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakin Saifuddin has said that capital punishment does not violate human rights.
"Indonesia adopts a human rights policy that can be restricted by law and is aimed at protecting and respecting the rights of others," Lukman said in Kendari, southeast Sulawesi, on Saturday.
In Indonesia, he said, the death penalty was handed down to drug and graft convicts on account of the destructive effects of the crimes committed. "By sentencing drugs convicts to death [Indonesia] protects the human rights of others," the minister said as quoted by Antara news agency.
Indonesia is scheduled to execute eleven death-row convicts despite global outcry, following the execution of an Indonesian and five foreign nationals on Jan. 18 for their involvement in drug trafficking.