[JURIST] Three Indonesian Islamic militants sentenced to death for their roles in the 2002 Bali nightclub bombings [BBC backgrounder] will seek a religious opinion on the legality of execution by firing squad from the Indonesian Council of Ulema, their lawyer said Monday. The three militants – Mukhlas, Amrozi, and Imam Samudra [BBC profiles] – are seeking an execution by beheading rather than by firing squad.

In a ruling made public last month but not officially handed down until last week, the Indonesian Supreme Court rejected the final appeal [JURIST report] of the three militants, giving the defendants one month to seek clemency from the Indonesian president. The militants say they will not seek clemency, and their lawyer said Monday that another attempt for a rehearing will be filed. Earlier this year, Indonesia reduced the sentenced [JURIST report] of 10 other Islamic militants convicted for their roles in the 2002 and 2005 Bali bombings [BBC report]. Originally serving between eight to 18 years, six of the militants received a sentence reduction of five months, while the other four received a reduction of two months. Terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah [MIPT backgrounder; JURIST news archive] has been blamed for both Bali bombings. Reuters has more.