Amnesty Calls for Release of Jailed Indonesian Atheist

[rug]

30-year-old Alexander Aan waits in the jail holding area during his verdict at the Muaro district court in West Sumatra on Thursday. Aan, writing 'God doesn't exist' on his Facebook page, was jailed for 30 months for sharing explicit material about the Prophet Mohammed online. (AFP Photo)

Jakarta Globe | June 15, 2012

Amnesty International has called for the immediate and unconditional release of an Indonesian man detained for professing atheism, calling his imprisonment a serious setback for freedom of expression in Indonesia.

“Amnesty International believes the charges and sentence are in contravention of Indonesia’s obligation under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights [ICCPR], particularly Article 18, which protects an individual’s right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and Article 19, which guarantees the right to freedom of opinion and expression,” the rights group said in a statement on Friday.

A court in the Muaro district of West Sumatra on Thursday sentenced 30-year-old Alexander Aan, a civil servant from Pulau Punjung subdistrict, to 30 months in jail and a fine of Rp 100 million ($10,600) for violating the Electronic Information and Transaction Law. He was charged with “disseminating information aimed at inciting religious hatred or hostility” under that law and also of religious blasphemy under the Criminal Code.

Alexander was reportedly an active member of the Minang atheist Facebook group. He allegedly posted statements and pictures that some construed as insulting to Islam and the Prophet Muhammad.

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/lawandorder/amnesty-calls-for-release-of-jailed-indonesian-atheist/524453

[ladjf]

1. Good suite. Hope they are successful. nt

[struggle4progress]

2. Atheist imprisonment a setback for freedom of expression

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
PUBLIC STATEMENT
14 June 2012
Index: ASA 21/021/2012

Indonesia: Atheist imprisonment a setback for freedom of expression

The imprisonment of Alexander Aan for incitement is a serious setback for freedom of expression in Indonesia, and violates Indonesia’s obligations under international law. Amnesty considers him to be a prisoner of conscience and calls for his immediate and unconditional release.

Alexander Aan, a 30 year old civil servant from Pulau Punjung subdistrict in West Sumatera province, was reportedly an active member of the Minang atheist Facebook group. He allegedly posted statements and pictures which some people construed as insulting Islam and the prophet Mohammad.

On 18 January 2012 an angry crowd who had heard about his alleged Facebook posts gathered at his workplace and threatened to beat him. Police officers intervened and took him to the Pulau Punjung Sub-District police station for his safety. On 20 January he was charged for “disseminating information aimed at inciting religious hatred or hostility” under Article 28 (2) of the Electronic Information and Transaction (ITE) Law, religious blasphemy under Article 156a(a) of the Indonesian Criminal Code and calling for others to embrace atheism under Article 156a(b) of the same code.

His trial began at the Muaro District Court on 2 April 2012. On 14 June the court sentenced him to two and a half years’ imprisonment and a fine of 100 million rupiah (US$10,600) for violating the Electronic Information and Transaction (ITE) Law ...

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA21/021/2012/en/9ce2ebf3-8112-49b3-9f5b-505d8b59dca0/asa210212012en.html

[daaron]

3. Outrageous. They make Bible Belt seem tame.

Is that how Indonesia wants the rest of the world to see them? As ignorant bigots?