Government Opens Opportunity To Give Amnesty To Small-Scale Drug Users

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Human Rights Imipas Yusril Ihza Mahendra when giving a statement to reporters, Thursday (13/11/2025). ANTARA/Agatha Olivia Victoria.

JAKARTA - The government opens up opportunities to grant amnesty to prisoners who are small-scale drug users and dealers.

Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the discourse on granting amnesty to convicts was to consider humanity and respect the productive age of prisoners so that they could be given the opportunity to carry out rehabilitation and work as widely as possible.

"In addition, it will also be able to reduce the density in various correctional institutions throughout the country," Yusril said at a press conference in Jakarta, Thursday, November 13.

The government is currently reviewing this and coordinating it so that it makes decisions on granting amnesty.

According to Yusril, President Prabowo Subianto will hear all opinions and input from various related ministries/agencies that have been synchronized.

According to him, in the coordination meeting, there have been several inputs regarding the discourse, both from the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), the Attorney General's Office (AGO), the Directorate General (Ditjen) of Corrections of the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections, the Directorate General of General Legal Administration of the Ministry of Law, and others.

In essence, said Yusril, various stakeholders provide input regarding certain criteria if amnesty will be given to prisoners who are small-scale drug users and dealers.

"But generally it is not given to dealers on a large scale or a large narcotics network," he asserted.

President Prabowo is said to be returning to grant amnesty, abolition, and rehabilitation to the suspects, defendants, convicts, and convicts who have served their sentences, after granting amnesty to 1,178 people and abolition to one person some time ago.

Amnesty and abolition this time are planned to be given to several people, both those who are still in the process of investigation, prosecution, and criminal implementation. Meanwhile, rehabilitation will be given to prisoners who have finished serving their sentences.

"This step is not just a pardon, but part of legal consolidation and national reconciliation," said Yusril.