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Decision to name Ahok a suspect detrimental to religious freedom: Setara
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Dangerous -- Setara Institute chairman Hendardi said the decision to name Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama a suspect in a blasphemy case was detrimental to religious freedom. (Kompas.com/Abba Gabrillin)
T
he police’s decision to name Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama a blasphemy suspect on Wednesday was detrimental to religious freedom in Indonesia, Setara Institute chairman Hendardi said.
Ahok was charged under Article 156 of the Criminal Code (KUHP) on defamation in reference to Article 28 of the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law.
"The article concerning blasphemy restricts the interpretation of religion. Someone's opinion about religion can be criminalized because of this article," Herdardi told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
The usage of that article on religious defamation in this case will set a bad precedent for religious tolerance in the country, he said.
"If this condition continues, Indonesians will become more intolerant of differences," he said.
After weeks of investigation, police named Ahok a blasphemy suspect in relation to a comment he made about a Quranic verse during a working visit to the Thousand Islands regency in late September.
Ahok’s remarks sparked outrage among Muslim conservatives. Thousands of people staged a rally in front of the State Palace in Jakarta on Nov. 4, demanding the government prosecute the governor.
In 2010, several organizations, including Setara, filed a judicial review on the Blasphemy Law with the Constitutional Court.
Judges rejected the request, arguing that the state had the right to regulate religious followers. (jun)
