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Man sentenced to 1.5 years in prison for blasphemy
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Students and staff members of the Baitul Mustofa Islamic boarding school in Mojosongo, Surakarta, Central Java, recite the Quran outdoors using oil lamps for light. (The Jakarta Post/Ganug Nugroho Adi)
T
he Semarang District Court in Central Java sentenced a man named Andrew Handoko to one-and-a-half years in prison for blasphemy on Monday.
Presiding judge Puji Widodo said Andrew’s action of tearing up the Quran was found to have violated Article 156 of the Criminal Code.
According to the law, anyone who publicly expresses feelings of hostility, hatred or contempt toward one or more of the people of Indonesia can face a maximum four years’ imprisonment or a maximum fine of Rp 4,500 (36 US cents).
Puji said the defendant had been proven guilty of doing so, through his intent and actions in tearing up the Quran and its translation, as it is the Muslim holy book and the scripture of all faiths should be respected.
He added that as the defendant was educated, there was no reason for him to not be aware of his actions. "The act of the defendant offended Muslims and met the elements of defamation of religion," Puji said as quoted by Antara news agency.
Andrew was indicted for allegedly tearing up a Quran at his ex-girlfriend’s boarding house in Surakarta in October 2016. The woman reported him to the Surakarta Police, but the trial was moved to Semarang for security reasons. (dis)
