Indonesian Blasphemy Trial Underway For Woman Who Complained About Mosque Loudspeakers

AP reports on the blasphemy trial of an ethnic Chinese woman in the Indonesian province of North Sumatra. The woman was charged after she complained in 2016 about the volume of a mosque's loudspeakers. Reports of her complaint led to a July 2016 riot in which 14 Buddhist temples were burned and ransacked. Two people have been charged for instigating that riot.  Prosecutors are asking for an 18 month prison term in the blasphemy trial.

Indonesia Sentences Student To 4 Years In Jail For Anti-Muslim Facebook Post

AFP reports that on Tuesday a court on the Indonesian island of Sumatra sentenced a 21-year old Christian university student to 4 years in jail and a fine of $70,000 (US) for a Facebook post that compared the Prophet Muhammad to a pig and said that Muhammad approved bestiality.  The student, Martinus Gulo, had been charged under Art. 28 of Indonesia's Electronic Information and Transactions law (with unrelated 2016 amendments) that outlaws spreading hatred or dissension against individuals or groups based on their race, religion or ethnicity.

Indonesia Sentences Christian Man To 4 Years For Facebook Post Urging Conversion

According to World Watch Monitor and the Jakarta Post, in Indonesia on Monday a Christian cleric was sentenced to 4 years in prison and a fine equivalent to $3,565(US) for religious discussion on a video he posted online.   Abraham Ben Moses, a convert from Islam, was convicted of violating the Electronic and Information Transactions Law No. 11/2008 by intentionally spreading information intended to incite hatred against an individual or group based on religion. According to the Post:

Abraham was known for recording his conversations with an online taxi driver identified only as Supri.

In a video he uploaded to his Facebook account, Abraham quoted a Quran verse about marriage and tried to convince the driver to convert to Christianity.

Valentine's Day Remains Controversial In Some Conservative Muslim and Hindu Areas

Again this year, Valentine's Day is countering opposition from conservative religious leaders in some nations.  Voice of America reports that Pakistan's  Electronic Media Regulatory Authority sent instructions to radio and television stations based on a ruling last year by the Islamabad High Court that Valentine's Day is un-Islamic, spreading immorality, nudity and indecency.  PEMRA told its licensees:

Respondents are directed to ensure that nothing about the celebrations of Valentine's Day and its promotion is spread on the Electronic and Print media," PEMRA's directive stated. "No event shall be held on an official level and at any public place. PEMRA is directed to ensure that all the TV channels shall stop the promotion of Valentine's Day forthwith."

Meanwhile, the Indonesian province of South Sulawesi has also continued its ban of the celebration of Valentine's Day. (Jakarta Post). And in the Indian state of  Karnataka, Shri Ram Sena pro-Hindu activists have been burning Valentines in effigy, claiming Valentine's Day as anti-Hindu. (MeriNews). Arab News reports however that Valentine's Day has become one of the most celebrated events in Egypt.

Court Stays Removal Of 50 Indonesian Christians Living In New Hampshire

In Devitri v. Cronen, (D MA, Feb. 1, 2018), a Massachusetts federal district court stayed the deportation of 50 Indonesian Christians living in New Hampshire while they seek to reopen their cases based on changed country conditions. The Indonesians, who had orders of removal issued against them, had been living under a 2010 humanitarian program called "Operation Indonesian Surrender." Last summer the government terminated the program and told petitioners that they would need to return to Indonesia within 60 days.  Petitioners say they are likely to face persecution or torture in Indonesia because of their Christian faith. AP reports on the decision.

Indonesia's Constitutional Court Refuses To Criminalize All Sex Outside of Marriage

Reuters reports that Indonesia's Constitutional Court yesterday in a 5-4 decision rejected a petition seeking to expand the definition of adultery in Indonesian law to cover not just married couples, but all sexual relations outside of marriage.  The petition was filed by the conservative Family Love Alliance (AILA).  Rights activists feared that the petition was particularly aimed at the LGBT community.  The Court majority held that any change in the law is a matter for Parliament, not the court.  Currently, same-sex relations between adults is outlawed only in the province of Aceh.

Indonesian Christians Get Temporary Stay of Deportation

In Devitri v. Cronen, (D MA, Nov. 27, 2017), a Massachusetts federal district court issued a temporary injunction barring the federal government from removing 51 Indonesian Christians who fear religious persecution if their final Orders of Removal are implemented. As explained by the court:

In 2010, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) instituted a humanitarian program called Operation Indonesian Surrender, through which Petitioners were granted Orders of Supervision, allowing them to seek employment and subjecting them to certain mandatory conditions. Petitioners also received temporary stays of removal that were renewed over multiple years. In the summer of 2017, these individuals were informed that they would be removed from the United States.

Petitioners claim that they need additional time to exercise their statutory right to move to reopen their cases based on changed country conditions that arose after their Orders of Removal became final. The court asked the government for additional briefing on how long the temporary injunction should remain in effect to give a reasonable time to file a motion to reopen.  ACLU issued a press release announcing the court's decision.

Indonesian Constitutional Court Requires Recognition of Indigenous Religions

According to an AP report, yesterday Indonesia's Constitutional Court handed down a ruling that will require recognition of adherents of the country's indigenous religions.  In the past, Indonesian law has required citizens in obtaining an identity card to select one of six religions-- Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism or Confucianism.  If they selected none of these, they risked prosecution under Indonesia's blasphemy law for being an atheist. Yesterday's ruling concluded that this arrangement is discriminatory.  According to the Jakarta Globe: "The Court recommended the creation of a seventh category – 'believers of the faith,' or penghayat kepercayaan.a'"

Indonesian Governor Sentenced To 2 Years In Jail for Blasphemy

In Indonesia on Tuesday, Jakarta's outgoing governor, a Christian, was convicted of blasphemy and sentenced to two years in jail.  Comments about a verse in the Qur'an made during the campaign by the governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (also known as "Ahok"), played a major role in his defeat by a Muslim candidate.  According to The Atlantic:

While on a work trip late last year, Purnama claimed that Jakarta’s Islamic leaders were misrepresenting a principle in the Koran for political gains. The verse in question, which comes from the fifth chapter of the Koran, suggests that Muslims should not have non-Muslim leaders. Purnama implied that his opponents were using the verse to discriminate against Christian candidates like himself. He later apologized for the comments, but did not admit to any wrongdoing.

Pence In Jakarta Praises Moderate Islam

Vice President Mike Pence's comments at his press conference in Jakarta, Indonesia on Thursday led Haaretz to run an article titled Pence's Visit to Indonesia Another Strike in Internal White House Battle Over Islam.  In his remarks to the press (full text), Pence said in part:

As the second and third largest democracies in the world, our two countries share many common values -- including freedom, the rule of law, human rights, and religious diversity.

 The United States is proud to partner with Indonesia to promote and protect these values, the birthright of all people....

Later today I’m greatly humbled to have the privilege to visit Indonesia’s national mosque, where I’ll have the opportunity to speak with leaders of many faiths.

And, Mr. President, I’m very much looking forward to that visit and that honor.  

 As the largest majority Muslim country, Indonesia’s tradition of moderate Islam, frankly, is an inspiration to the world.  And we commend you and your people. 

In your nation, as in mine, religion unifies -- it doesn’t divide.  It gives us hope for a brighter future, and we are all grateful for the great inspiration that Indonesia provides for the world.

Pence Meets With Interfaith Leaders In Indonesia

Yesterday, as part of his trip to Asia, Vice President Mike Pence met with interfaith religious leaders in Indonesia.  The White House readout on the meeting (full text) in addition to listing the 17 participants said:

Today, Vice President Mike Pence participated in an interfaith dialogue with faith leaders of Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Confucianism at the conclusion of his tour of the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia. Vice President Pence expressed appreciation to Indonesia for its shared commitment to religious freedom and reaffirmed that the United States will continue to defend this fundamental freedom, at home and abroad.

Indonesian Governor Being Prosecuted For Blasphemy For Campaign Statement

In Indonesia, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (also known as "Ahok"), former Deputy Governor of Jakarta who has been serving as its governor since late 2014 has now been charged with blasphemy because of statements made in his campaign for re-election as governor in the upcoming February elections. As reported yesterday by AlJazeera, Ahok who is a member of the Chinese Christian minority in Indonesia angered Muslims when he accused his election opponents of misusing against him a Quranic verse that suggests Muslims should not choose non-Muslims as leaders. After more than 100,000 Muslims took to the streets to demand Ahok's prosecution, the police began an investigation and eventually concluded that the case should go to court for a determination of whether of not Ahok committed blasphemy.  If found guilty, he could be sentenced to 5 years in prison.  Ahok has apologized, saying he was criticizing his election opponents, not the Quran.

Indonesian Police Investigate Whether Facebook Post Was Blasphemy

In Indonesia yesterday, Ade Armando, a lecturer in Communications Science at the University of Indonesia, was questioned by the Jakarta Police Special Criminal Investigation Unit after an employee of a media company filed blasphemy charges against Armando.  According to Tempo, the charges stem from a post by Armando on his Facebook page reading: "Allah is not an Arab. Allah will be happy if His verses are being recited with Minang, Ambon, Chinese, Hip hop, Blues style." Apparently the post was in response to a suggestion by Indonesia's Religious Affairs Minister for a Qur'an recitation festival.  Armando says that the post generated a charge that he was likening God to man. Art. 156a of the Indonesia Penal Code prescribes up to 5 years in prison to anyone "who deliberately in public gives expression to feelings ... which principally have the character of being at enimity with, abusing or staining a religion, adhered to in Indonesia...."

Indonesia's Supreme Court Penalizes Judges On East Java's Religious Affairs Court

The Jakarta Globe reports that yesterday Indonesia's Supreme Court imposed unspecified penalties on 11 of the 12 members of the Religious Affairs Court in Ponorogo district, East Java, for permitting attorneys who are members of the unofficial Indonesian Congress of Advocates (KAI) to practice before the court. The Religious Affairs Court's chief judge reported the violation.  Under Indonesia’s 2003 Law on Attorneys, only members of the Indonesian Association of Advocates (Peradi) are allowed to practice.