T

he government has requested the panel of judges at the Constitutional Court to reject a judicial-review petition challenging the 1965 Blasphemy Law, saying that the law is still needed to protect all religions from any kind of insult.

The petition, lodged by 25 members of the Ahmadiyah community, was the third challenge to the Blasphemy Law filed at the court, following two failed attempts by other plaintiffs in 2009 and 2012.

Representing the government in the judicial review, Mia Amiyati, a coordinator for the deputy attorney-general for State Administrative Court affairs (Jamdatun), said the 1965 Blasphemy Law provided preventive measures for potential religious-driven conflicts.

“Through the 1965 law, problems that arise from alleged religious defamation can be settled through legal mechanisms. Article 1 of the law is not meant to curb religious freedom, but to provide means to prevent religious blasphemy,” Mia told the court during a hearing on Tuesday.

Citing the court’s ruling on the 2012 case that upheld the controversial law, Mia said the law was needed to maintain public order. In the petition, the Ahmadiyah community has requested the court declare three articles in the law — which prohibit people from spreading beliefs and teachings that can be considered heresy — invalid.