BANGKOK, Thailand — The Islamist bombers who murdered 202 people on the island of Bali in 2002 have exhausted appeals against their death sentences, but they are returning to court to argue that they should be beheaded rather than shot.

The Indonesian government wants to put the three men in front of a firing squad before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins in September. But their lawyers insist that would be inhumane.

The three bombers say they prefer to be beheaded, according to local reports. Their lawyers have suggested lethal injection.

Indonesia’s Constitutional Court has agreed to hear a petition from Amrozi bin Nurhasyim, Imam Samudra and Ali Ghufron, who were convicted for the backpack and van bomb attacks on Bali nightclubs.

Attorney General Hendarman Supandji has said he wants the executions carried out before Ramadan, due to begin Sept. 1, but the court’s ruling on the execution petition isn’t expected before then.

The bombers’ legal team conceded that the attorney general has authority to carry out the executions without waiting for the court’s ruling but argued that taking such action would disrespect the nation’s Constitution.

— From wire reports