REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, YOGYAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has appealed to Indonesian Muslims to support the fight against drugs-related crimes in the country, including the imposition of death penalty on major drug offenders.

"We have declared a war against illicit drugs. We hope all Muslims will give their support to this effort," President Jokowi stated during the closing of the Sixth Congress of Indonesian Muslims, here, Wednesday (11/2).

Narcotic drugs kill thousands of young people annually, and it has to be stopped, he emphasized.

"Some 40-50 people die in vain every day, or 18 thousand people annually," he stated.

"At least 4.5 million drug addicts need to be rehabilitated, and 1.2 million others can no longer be rehabilitated. Should we let this happen?" he stressed.

Death penalty is not a unilateral decision of the president, but it is in accordance with the law of Indonesia, according to him.

"Death penalty verdicts are decided by the judges, and the president only refuses to give pardons," he noted.

The congress was attended by leaders of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Muhammadiyah, the Islam Unity (Persis), and the Indonesia Islamic Preaching Institution (LDII), among others.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika