The Jakarta Post
Human rights activists have strongly condemned the police’s decision to name West Sumatra interfaith campaigner Sudarto a suspect in spreading hate speech, saying that all Sudarto did was to express his concern over growing intolerance in the province. The West Sumatra Police on Tuesday declared Sudarto a suspect for posting a statement on his Facebook social media account opposing the local administration’s alleged discrimination against Christians in Dharmasraya regency. In his Facebook post, Sudarto, an activist with human rights group Pusaka, criticized the reported prohibition against Christians in Kampung Baru, Dharmasraya regency, from holding Christmas religious services. Harry Permana, chairman of a youth group in the regency, reported Sudarto to the police, after he was told about Sudarto’s post. After the report, Sudarto was detained by West Sumatra ...