At least four French nationals, including one woman, are on death row in three states around the world: one in Algeria, one in China, and two in Morocco. The death penalty thus continues to affect French citizens abroad, as well as their families and friends at home.
These four French nationals were sentenced in different countries, at different times, for different crimes and in contrasting contexts. The level of information about them also varies, with some countries going so far as to criminalise the disclosure of information about the death penalty.
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On 4 February 2025, French national Serge Atlaoui was transferred to France after spending almost 18 years on Indonesian death row. He had been sentenced to death for drug trafficking in May 2007. On 12 February 2025, the French courts commuted the death sentence handed down to Serge Atlaoui in Indonesia to 30 years’ imprisonment.
In addition, over the last six years, at least 13 French citizens sentenced to death abroad (Indonesia, United States and Iraq) have reportedly had their sentences commuted by local courts.
Did you know? Jérôme Carrein was the last French citizen to be executed on French territory. He was guillotined during the night of 22-23 June 1977 in Nord-Pas-de-Calais. Subsequently, on 28 April 1983, two French citizens were executed in Zimbabwe on charges of murder, despite calls from French authorities not to execute them.
How can a French national be sentenced to death abroad?
Because individuals are subject to the law in force in the territory on which they are present, regardless of their nationality. Thus, where an offence carries the death penalty under that country’s legislation, a French national can be sentenced to death.
- The grounds of conviction vary (terrorism, drug-related offences, unknown), as does the length of time individuals have spent in prison since sentencing: some have been on death row for almost 30 years.
- Some of them are at risk of execution: While no executions have been recorded in Algeria or Morocco since 1993, China is the world’s leading executioner. China has also regularly executed foreigners, particularly those convicted of drug-related crimes.
- Under the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, ratified by France as well as Algeria, China, and Morocco, French nationals detained in these countries are entitled to consular protection (or assistance).
If the 1981 French law abolishing the death penalty and the constitutionalisation of this principle are to have any meaning, it is France’s responsibility to work towards the repatriation of French nationals sentenced to death abroad and to guarantee the respect of their fundamental rights.”
