The Constitutional Court of Indonesia has upheld the death penalty for serious drug offences, it has been revealed.
At the beginning of this year a total of 134 people, including 34 foreigners, were on death row for largely drug-related crimes.
The panel of nine judges ruled that the death penalty imposed for drug smuggling was neither against the constitution nor against human rights.
Three Australians recently arrested in Bali for drug trafficking in the country around whom reports of the current constitutional hearing has focused, were told that they had no right to challenge Indonesian law because they were foreigners.
"Narcotics are a big problem here, I am not surprised at the court's decision," said Rudi Satrio, a legal expert at the University of Indonesia.
"If a challenge is brought in the future to the Constitutional Court about the death penalty in general, not just in terms of drug offenses, maybe we will see some change," he added.
Indonesia has attracted around 5 million tourists per year over the last decade, with the island resort of Bali particularly popular among tourists for its nightlife.
