Indonesian Journal of Law and Justice
Vol. 3 No. 3 (2026): March

DEATH PENALTY IN DRUG CRIMES: Analysis of Constitutional Court Decisions from a Human Rights Perspective

Rahayu, Anisa Fuji (Unknown)
Sahara, Anisa (Unknown)
Chatlina, Chiara Belva (Unknown)
Putra, Muhammad Irsyad Irman (Unknown)
Sari, Puput Intan Permata (Unknown)
Mulyadi, Dedi (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
13 Mar 2026

Abstract

The application of the death penalty for narcotics crimes in Indonesia remains controversial because it involves a conflict between the state’s authority to impose criminal sanctions and the protection of the fundamental right to life guaranteed by the 1945 Constitution and international human rights instruments. This study aims to analyze the Constitutional Court’s legal reasoning regarding the constitutionality of the death penalty for narcotics crimes, examine international human rights perspectives, and evaluate its proportionality in modern criminal law. This research uses a normative juridical method with statutory, case, and conceptual approaches. The analysis is based on Constitutional Court decisions related to the Narcotics Law and relevant international human rights instruments such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The results show that the Constitutional Court maintains the constitutionality of the death penalty by classifying narcotics crimes as extraordinary crimes, while emphasizing that its application must be limited as an ultimum remedium. However, international human rights standards increasingly criticize the death penalty for drug crimes because it does not meet the category of “most serious crimes.” This study concludes that although constitutionally permissible, the death penalty for narcotics crimes raises concerns regarding proportionality and compatibility with international human rights standards.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

lawjustice

Publisher

Subject

Environmental Science Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice Social Sciences

Description

The Indonesian Journal of Law and Justice ISSN 3031 0016 is a peer-reviewed scholarly journal dedicated to presenting high quality research in the field of law and justice in Indonesia. The focus and scope of this journal are, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law and Criminology, Civil and Business Law, ...