UK and Indonesia Agree to Repatriate Britons from Bali Death Row

Lindsay Sandiford, a British grandmother sentenced to death by firing squad in Indonesia over a decade ago for smuggling nearly 4.8 kg of cocaine, is set to be repatriated to the UK following a new transfer agreement between the British and Indonesian governments. Sandiford, who claimed she was coerced by an international drug syndicate threatening her son's life, has spent 12 years in Bali's Kerobokan Prison battling severe health issues including diabetes and hypertension. The agreement, signed by Indonesian Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra and UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, also includes another British national serving a life sentence for drug offenses, reflecting Indonesia's commitment to human rights for ill foreign prisoners. The repatriation signifies a policy shift under Indonesia's current administration towards transferring foreign nationals to their home countries rather than carrying out executions, which Indonesia has not conducted since 2016. Sandiford’s case has drawn significant media attention in the UK, highlighting debates about the risks British citizens face in countries with capital punishment and reaffirming the UK government's opposition to the death penalty. The transfer will allow Sandiford to complete her sentence in Britain under humanitarian considerations and ongoing diplomatic cooperation.