a leading international human rights group called on the Indonesian president to commute the death sentences to life of three Islamic militants

a leading international human rights group called on the Indonesian president to commute the death sentences to life of three Islamic militants convicted for their roles in the 2002 Bali bombings. While condemning the terrorist attacks as "horrific and inexcusable acts," Human Rights Watch said the death penalty was not an appropriate punishment for the three convicts. "We write to urge you to commute the death sentences of Amrozi bin H Nurhasyim, Ali Ghufron (aka Mukhlas), and Imam Samudra, three men who are facing imminent execution, to life sentences" Human Rights Watch wrote. Human Rights Watch said the death penalty was cruel and final, and not appropriate as the three were tried and sentenced under laws introduced after the bombings. It said Indonesia was a party to the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights which prohibits the use of retroactive criminal laws. "We also note that there is no clear evidence that the application of the death penalty serves as a more effective deterrent against criminal activity than other forms of punishment." The human rights group said it was "deeply concerned" because Indonesia had recently begun increasing the rate of executions, contrary to a global trend against the use of the death penalty.