Indonesia Not Prioritizing Repatriation of Reynhard Sinaga and Hambali, Says Minister

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra stated that the government is not prioritizing the repatriation of , convicted of sexual assault in the United Kingdom, and Hambali, a terrorism suspect held at Guantanamo Bay.

Yusril made this statement during a working meeting with the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I along with his Deputy Coordinating Minister Otto Hasibuan and Deputy Minister for Coordinating Political and Security Affairs Lodewijk F. Paulus. "I have emphasized that immediate repatriation of these two individuals is not a government priority," Yusril said on Tuesday, February 11, 2025.

However, Yusril noted that the government is still monitoring the cases of Reynhard and Hambali, as the state has a responsibility to its citizens, even those abroad. "Every citizen, wherever they are, is the responsibility of the government to provide attention, protection, and defense," he said.

Yusril explained that, according to UK law, Reynhard Sinaga can apply for a sentence reduction after serving 30 years in prison. "It's not easy because it's a very serious case," he added.

Regarding , who has been detained at Guantanamo Bay for over two decades without a trial, Yusril said that the government has requested the United States government to expedite his trial. "But until now, there has been no trial. It's a terrorism issue on one hand and a human rights issue on the other. We have not had a somewhat detailed discussion about Hambali's repatriation," he explained.

Yusril stated that the government's current focus is on cases involving Indonesian migrant workers abroad. "There are approximately 54 Indonesian citizens sentenced to death in Malaysia and Saudi Arabia," he said. "That is our priority."

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