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Two former Al-Qiyadah activists get three years for blasphemy
The Padang District Court Friday sentenced two local Al-Qiyadah Islamiyah sect activists to three years imprisonment for blasphemy
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The Padang District Court Friday sentenced two local Al-Qiyadah Islamiyah sect activists to three years imprisonment for blasphemy.
Presiding judge Saparudin Hasibuan said in the verdict that Dedi Priadi, 44, and Gerry Lufthi Yudistira, 20, had violated the Criminal Code and were guilty of blaspheming in public.
Their sentences were six months lighter than those sought by their prosecutors.
"The mitigating factor is that both defendants have admitted to their wrongdoings, they have shown remorse and have apologized publicly," said Saparudin.
Dedi declined to comment on the court ruling.
A lawyer representing the defendants, Alvon Kurnia Palma, also director of the Padang chapter Legal Aid Institute, said he regretted the court had rejected or ignored every defense motion submitted.
"We will file an appeal within the next seven days," he said, adding that the decision was in error because Dedi and Gerry had repented before the Indonesian Ulema's Council (MUI) issued an edict banning the Al-Qiyadah sect.
"Article 156 of the Criminal Code, referred to by judges, should not have been used... because (the suspects) repented before the ban was issued."
He also said the ruling was not legally founded because his charges had not delivered Al-Qiyadah teachings in public, nor had they coerced their audience.
