Uncomfortable bedfellows: The alliance that proved so successful in defeating Ahok may yet unravel Now that ex-Jakarta Governor Ahok has been ousted from power and faces prison, the unifying mission that brought Indonesia’s hard-line Islamic groups together may unravel, Chris Chaplin writes. Over the course of the past nine months, an alliance between political interests and Islamic activists against Jakarta ... Read More »

The conviction and jailing of Jakarta governor Basuki Purnama for blasphemy caps a rising trend of Islamic intolerance Moderate Muslim leaders and human rights groups have renewed calls to scrap Indonesia’s 1965 blasphemy law following last week’s conviction and imprisonment of ethnic-Chinese Jakarta governor Basuki “Ahok” Purnama for his controversial reference to a verse in the Koran. The growing use ... Read More »

The ruling against the Christian governor causes tensions and controversy. The blasphemy is a pretext used to exert social and political pressure on opponents. The court failed to exert its independence, said Surya Chandra.  “Article 156a of the Criminal Code article is elastic,” Antonius Yudo said. “Any opinion or claim other than that of the majority and not in accordance ... Read More »

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Setara Institute recorded 97 blasphemy cases in Indonesia throughout 1965-2017, including the latest case that involved former Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, better known as Ahok. Surprisingly, most of these cases occurred in the post-reformation era. “Interestingly, the blasphemy cases increase during the information age,” said Setara Institute researcher Halili on Thursday, May 11. Halili further explained ... Read More »

ACTIVISTS SAY GROWING USE OF LAW CURBS FREE SPEECH AND OFTEN TARGETS MINORITIES Indonesia is facing renewed calls to repeal its controversial blasphemy law after the jailing of Jakarta’s Christian governor, with critics pointing to a sharp increase in its use to target minorities. Basuki Tjahaja Purnama—known by his nickname Ahok—was jailed for two years on Tuesday for blasphemy over ... Read More »