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defamation lawsuit against Zakki Amali, a Semarang-based journalist who wrote an investigative report about alleged plagiarism committed by Semarang State University (Unnes) rector Fathur Rokhman, is another example of a threat to the freedom of expression, the Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet) has said.

The investigative report was published on serat.id, an online media platform managed by the Semarang chapter of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI).

Unnes spokesman and the rector’s legal representative, Hendi Pratama, reported Zakki to the Central Java Police in July for defamation. Zakki was accused of violating the Information and Electronic Transactions (ITE) Law for allegedly smearing both Fathur and the university’s reputation.

The police have summoned Zakki twice to question him.

Bimo Fandrika of SAFEnet said Zakki’s case showed that freedom of expression was once again under threat despite the Constitution protecting it.

“A defamation lawsuit against Zakki for his investigative reporting is clearly intimidation. It is also a big mistake because Zakki is protected by the law while doing his investigative work,” Bimo said in a statement on Monday.

SAFEnet secretary Anton Muhajir said the case was another example of the misuse of the ITE Law because press freedom was protected by the Press Law.

Anton also urged the police to stop their investigation and let the case be handled by the Press Council.