April 20, p. 1: The Constitutional Court on Monday ruled to uphold the controversial blasphemy law, a decision that plaintiffs said was mainly based on fears of a public backlash. With only one dissenting judge, the court argued that the law was “still needed to maintain public order among religious groups”.
“If the Blasphemy Law was scrapped before a new law was enacted … it was feared that misuses and contempt of religion would occur and trigger conflict in society,” Constitutional justice Akil Mochtar said. “This law is very important ... to prevent both horizontal and vertical conflict from occurring,” another judge said.
The dissenting opinion came from justice Maria Farida Indrati, who said the 1965 law had many shortcomings relating to the fundamental amendments on human rights in the Constitution.
“With the many problems that have often triggered arbitrary actions in the implementation of this law … I think that the petition should have been granted,” she said.
Maria was also the only judge that took an opposing stance in a previous court ruling on the pornography law. In many instances, minority Islamic sects have been targets of harassment, violence and expulsion from their communities.
A plaintiff, Poengky Indarti of Imparsial (The Indonesian Human Rights Monitor), said “the dictatorship of the majority has contributed [to the decision]”.
Your comments:
I can’t understand why these groups are so afraid of a law review. The court isn’t going to blindly erase random parts and insert random words in.
If it’s not going to be reviewed because there might be a massive
outbreak if it is, it shows that there is an actual need to review not only that certain law, but the entire system of society.
Ruby
Jakarta
The earth has existed for some 50 million years. Humans have walked this earth for only about 1.5 percent of this time.
Most religions now are in their infancy in that they will either grow and become fully mature or stay in a dark ages mentality and keep people without much education and money from support.
Take the war away from religion and what is left. Peace, hope. I say have all people educated by an impartial organization, not based on text that was written by rich kings and queens of long ago.
Times have changed and the children of today deserve the best that planet earth can give, not just hope and bizarre laws and mind sets. Long live planet earth.
Amanung
Bromo, East Java
I appreciate Indonesia even though there are imperfections with regards to religious practice. It is important to understand clearly the role of the government in religion. The government has to be neutral and impartial, not siding with one or the other.
It is its role to create a favorable environment for all faiths to flourish and grow. The government must create a fair and safe environment for every individual to pursue their own religious conscience and understanding. It must create laws
that safeguard, protect and respect such rights.
The government must not be the moral or religious arbitrator. In society which allows a religious group to use arms/weapons to oppress or suppress another religion in the name of religion is incongruent with civilization.
I am confident as we become more mature as a nation, more respectful of the role of laws and develop a greatr understanding on how to use laws and create a just and fair society, Indonesia will be a better nation.
It is important that we do not
lose sight of the fact we are great people with great potential. Our future is great.
James Waworoendeng
California
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