Even Ariel’s lawyer said he was worried if Ariel were acquitted — how weird is that.
The sentence was to appease SBY and the hard-liners. I remember it was SBY who made such loud noises over this case and that the guilty should be prosecuted.
Shame he wasn’t so vociferous over the FPI radicals and their creating mayhem.
I think we will see this go to appeal very quickly and very quietly and he will be acquitted. That is unless the power brokers have ensured that he must serve time.
I have to agree with most other comments here — the law and justice in this country is just a sick joke.
Dennis
Surabaya

Forget about claims of Indonesia being a moderate country, it is run by the religious police.
Sheldon
Probolinggo, East Java

That’s a crazy verdict! The justice department, prosecutors, lawyers and police need to wake up and smell the freedom of expression.
Imamsyah Subrata
Jakarta

Lady Justice is dead in Indonesia. The whole world will laugh at us and think the Taliban have taken control. Poor Indonesia and shame on judge Singgih Budi Prakoso. He thinks he is a hero.
Dewi
Jakarta

The rule of law is dead today in Indonesia with the sentencing of Ariel. There were once high hopes in concepts such as justice, honesty, freedom, wisdom, common sense, decency, conscience, democracy and equality.
In one fell swoop they have all gone.
It’s seemingly OK for religious fanatics to threaten life and limb, even kill, maim, loot and burn with impunity.
The judiciary has demonstrated that it’s a joke, a cruel, pathetic caricature of wisdom, prostrating itself in front of a mob of mindless fools, terrified of the consequences and setting the worst possible precedent.
There seems to be no plans to stop the increasingly arrogant and complacent Islamic thuggery, violence, graft and corruption which are geared towards making a misery of the lives of fellow Indonesians whose beliefs differ from the mainstream.
Pak SBY, you were warned.
You fiddled and hid your head in your hands. You didn’t care or understand, and now it may be too late. You should be indicted for indecision and incompetence, and for not upholding the Constitution.
Let’s hope Ariel is a strong lad. He will need to be. He doesn’t have corrupt friends in high places like the others.
I hope the outside world takes note.
Maurice
Sanur, Bali

Once again the Indonesian justice system is shown to be an embarrassing joke:
Making a naughty video with his girl friend — three-and-a-half years; getting caught with less than a gram of marijuana — five years; stealing Rp 28 billion from the public purse — seven years; paying for a judge to be assassinated — four years; torturing a Papuan — 10 months and attacking a religious minority group — not even charged.
K. Highlander
Jakarta

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