Blasphemy law in Indonesia

Blasphemy law in Indonesia (Indonesian: Undang-undang Penistaan Agama) is the legislation, presidential decrees, and ministerial directives prohibit blasphemy in Indonesia.

Criminal Code

Indonesia prohibits blasphemy by its Criminal Code. The Code’s Article 156(a) targets those who deliberately, in public, express feelings of hostility, hatred, or contempt against religions with the purpose of preventing others from adhering to any religion, and targets those who disgrace a religion. The penalty for violating Article 156(a) is a maximum of five years imprisonment.[1][2]

Presidential decree

Article 156(a) is the complement to a decree enacted by President Sukarno and implemented by President Soeharto, namely, Presidential Decree No. 1/PNPS/1965 on the Prevention of Blasphemy and Abuse of Religions. Article 1 of the decree prohibits the “deviant interpretation” of religious teachings, and mandates the President to dissolve any organization practicing deviant teachings.[2] Until the end of the 20th century, Indonesian society was tolerant of Islam (88% of the population), Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Judaism, and animism.[3] The Government was tolerant of persons with no religion, e.g., members of the Communist Party, but does not count them in any census.[3]

Constitution

Article 29 of Indonesia’s Constitution stipulates “the state is based on the belief in the one supreme God.” The Constitution does not dictate which religion’s version of God should be worshipped.[2] In January 2006, the Ministry of Religious Affairs was according official status to six religions: Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Confucianism. On 9 December 2006, the House of Representatives passed a new civil registration bill requiring citizens to identify themselves on government ID cards as a member of one of the six religions.[3]

MUI

The Government formed a body of Muslim advisors, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) in 1975, and continues to fund and appoint its members. The MUI is not formally a government body but it is influential. The Government considers the MUI’s fatawa when making decisions or drafting legislation.[3] In July 2005, the MUI issued a fatwa that condemned the sect of Ahmadiyya as a heresy. In June 2008, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Home Ministry issued a Joint Ministerial Letter regarding the Ahmadiyya. The letter told authorities to restrict Ahmadiyya activities to private worship, and to prevent the Amadhi from proselytizing. Provincial governors in West Sumatra, South Sumatra, and West Nusa Tenggara banned all Ahmadiyya activity.[1]

Conflict

Indonesia's laws and policies have produced many instances where members of one religion have persecuted the members of other religions or of other sects. The authorities have not brought to justice many perpetrators of crimes. Crimes are commonly justified by the perpetrators as actions against hatred, heresy, blasphemy, or deviance.[1][3]

In October 2009, a group of petitioners, including some human rights groups, requested that Indonesia's Constitutional Court review the 1965 Law on Blasphemy. On 19 April 2010, the Court announced its refusal to make the review. “If the Blasphemy Law was scrapped before a new law was enacted . . . it was feared that misuses and contempt of religion would occur and trigger conflicts in society,” Justice Akil Mochtar said. The Court offered an interpretation of the Law. The interpretation says the state recognizes six religions, and "leaves alone" the followers of other religions.[4]

Selected cases

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Annual Report of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom May 2009" (PDF). Indonesia. United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. May 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-24.
  2. 1 2 3 Al ‘Afghani, Mohamad Mova (3 December 2007). "Ruling against blasphemy unconstitutional". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 2009-06-20.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Indonesia". International Religious Freedom Report 2007. U.S. State Department. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
  4. Hapsari, Arghea Desafti (23 April 2010). "Court upholds Blasphemy Law". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  5. "Row over Indonesia atheist Facebook post". BBC News. 20 January 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  6. Camelia Pasandaran (20 January 2012). "Dismay After Indonesian Atheist Charged With Blasphemy". JakartaGlobe. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  7. http://www.webcitation.org/5px52XxdQ Indonesian prophet jailed for blasphemy.
  8. 1 2 Wisnu, Andra (3 June 2009). "Lia Eden sentenced to prison, again". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
  9. Tunny, M. Azis (13 December 2008). "Maluku Police name new suspect, take over case". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 2009-06-24.
  10. "Indonesia: Village to be rebuilt following Islamic rampage". Compass Direct News. 17 December 2008. Retrieved 2009-06-24.
  11. Patung (27 February 2006). "Abdul Rahman, Blasphemer". Indonesia Matters. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
  12. Patung (11 April 2007). "Islam is for Arabs". Indonesia Matters. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
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