Serge Atlaoui to be repatriated from Indonesia to France

Indonesia has finalized a repatriation agreement for Serge Atlaoui, a French national sentenced to death for drug offenses since 2007. The agreement, signed by Indonesian and French officials, allows Atlaoui to serve his remaining sentence in France, with the transfer scheduled for February 4. Atlaoui, who has been imprisoned since 2005 and suffers from health issues, has always maintained his innocence, claiming he was unaware of the drug operation he was implicated in. The deal strengthens Franco-Indonesian ties, with France agreeing to acknowledge the death sentence while managing Atlaoui's incarceration under its laws. This agreement follows a series of recent releases of high-profile detainees by Indonesia. The transfer represents a significant moment in Indonesia's stringent approach to drug-related crimes and its evolving partnership with France regarding human rights concerns.