This was published 9 years ago
Australian stars and public figures plead for mercy for Bali nine
By Rania Spooner
- Bali nine: Australia accused of 'surreal hypocrisy'
- Bali nine: Aussies on death row part of a grim line
Asher Keddie, Germaine Greer and Alan Jones are among those who have thrown their support behind two Australians facing the death penalty in Indonesia, in a powerful star-filled video calling for mercy.
Sydney-based artist Ben Quilty who formed a bond with Bali nine death row inmates Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan over art classes at the notorious Kerobokan Prison posted the video to social media on Saturday.
Asher Keddie is one of several Australian public figures who have thrown their support behind two Australians facing the death penalty in Indonesia.
"Some of my favourite people are standing for mercy," he wrote. "Myu and Andrew, we are walking this path with you."
Sukumaran and Chan have spent nearly a decade behind bars in Bali for their roles in an attempt to smuggle heroin into Australia from Indonesia.
Both Australians have recently lost their final bids of clemency to Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
Their deaths by firing squad are considered imminent.
The impassioned video features Australian stars and public figures expressing their opposition to the killing of the reformed men and includes quotes from Kerobokan inmates whose lives they have touched.
Among the familiar faces to express support are Megan Washington, Claudia Karvan, Missy Higgins, Bryan Brown, Richard Roxbugh and David Wenham.
The video, which was also uploaded to the Mercy Campaign website, points to an online petition addressed to Mr Widodo calling for the Australians to be spared, which has garnered more than 1500 signatures and was forced to relocate due to the heavy web traffic it was receiving.
Written in English and Indonesian the petition argues both men have turned their lives around and helped other prisoners do the same.
"They are a true credit to the Indonesian Penal system, which has enabled their rehabilitation," it states.
"They deserve to be in jail, but not to be killed."
Quilty is also putting together a tribute concert for the men.