(AKI) - An Indonesian court has agreed to consider delaying the execution of the three men convicted of the 2002 Bali bombing until the court hears a challenge against their deaths by firing squad.Lawyers for Amrozi bin Nurhasyim, Ali Gufron and Imam Samudra told the Constitutional Court on Thursday that death by firing squad can be tortuously slow and painful and therefore unconstitutional. The court also agreed to consider an application that the bombers executions be delayed.
Lawyer Wirawan Adnan said that while the Constitutional Court did not have the power to order a stay of execution, it would be respectful for the government to do that. "It's up to them whether or not to do it, but, you know, I believe they should respect this court and respect the constitution," he said.
Indonesia's constitutional court opened hearings into the Islamists' latest bid to stave off their executions by firing squad over the 2002 attacks (photo) on the resort island of Bali which killed 202 people, mainly foreign tourists.
The Indonesian attorney general's office has said it hopes to execute the Islamist militants, who were convicted in 2003, before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins in early September.