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The Constitutional Court (MK) needs to improve its performance in handling judicial review requests to curb potential misconduct,  human rights watchdog Setara Institute has suggested. Ismail Hasani, the watchdog’s research director, said the longer it takes for the court to process a request, the greater the opportunity for collusion between plaintiffs and justices. He cited the bribery case of former ... Read More »

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 »

Poor record: Setara Institute researchers Achmad Fanani (left) and Bonar Tigor Naipospos present a study on Indonesia’s human rights index during a press conference in Jakarta on Monday. Their research suggests Indonesia is experiencing a decline in the religious freedom and freedom of speech categories.(JP/Wendra Ajistyatama) The state of freedom in the country has fallen to a new low with ... Read More »

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Bonar Tigor Naipospos, Deputy Chairman of Indonesian think tank Setara Institute, asserted that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo had committed human rights violation in relation to the alleged religious blasphemy committed by non-active Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama. Bonar stated that in human rights perspective, a country – represented by its government – has the obligation to protect ... Read More »

Cases of religious intolerance could increase in Indonesia amid Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama’s blasphemy trial and ahead of Christmas celebrations. Setara Institute research director Ismail Hasani said intolerant groups had grown more confident after a large-scale rally against Ahok in the National Monument (Monas) area, Central Jakarta, on Dec. 2. “And it’s now heading toward Christmas,” Ismail told ... Read More »

If anyone wonders why Indonesia has been ineffective in curbing extremism, the anti-Ahok campaign provides an object lesson. In the name of demanding that the Jakarta governor be prosecuted for blasphemy, it brings together violent extremists, moralist thugs and powerful political interests. And because of the latter, no one dares challenge it. Indonesia’s spineless political leaders have allowed extremists to ... Read More »

The campaign period for the Jakarta gubernatorial race kicked off Friday with a joint declaration by human rights activists and leading Muslim figures to promote an election that is free from racism and sectarianism. Ismail Hasani, research director of the Setara Institute rights group, said on Friday that although many surveys showed only a small number of Jakarta residents would ... Read More »