Grand Mufti on Jakarta mercy mission

The Grand Mufti of Australia is in Jakarta to meet Islamic leaders and put the case for mercy for death row Aussies Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.

The Grand Mufti of Australia is in Jakarta, encouraging Indonesian Islamic leaders to consider mercy for Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.

Ibrahim Abu Mohammed met Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin on Wednesday and raised the case of the Bali Nine members who face execution very soon.

The men's arrest for heroin trafficking was 10 years ago, and in the intervening years they have not only rehabilitated themselves but other inmates.

Through his spokesman Sheikh Amin Hady, the grand mufti said Australia's Islamic leaders respected the Indonesian government's firm pursuit of drug crime and made no criticism of the justice system.

"However, we note that mercy and and forgiveness lies at the heart of Islam for those who repent and have reformed their ways," he told reporters.

"We urge that the heritage of mercy in our religions is fully and deeply considered in the application of state law

"We plead with respect and humility for mercy for the lives of two young Australian men, who have not only shown repentance for their serious crimes but have rehabilitated themselves and indeed others."

The minister said it was a happy meeting but he stood by President Joko Widodo's application of Indonesian law.

"The destruction of drugs is extraordinary," he said.

"This is a crime against humanity that has caused so many victims in Indonesia.

The death penalty applied to the crime, not the person, he argued.

"We hope the Australian government along with its people can understand why Indonesia applies the death penalty as such," he said.

The grand mufti's delegation, which includes Dr Hady and Adelaide's Shiekh Kafrawi Hamzah, both of Indonesian background, will put the case for mercy to Indonesia's Islamic leaders.


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Source: AAP


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