An Indonesian court sentenced a comedian to seven months in prison for a joke about Mohammed. Concerns over blasphemy laws intensify.
Aulia Rakhman violated blasphemy laws by joking about the name of Mohammed during a performance. The incident occurred in Lampung in December.
A video of his performance, widely shared on social media, showed him quipping that the holiness of the name was no longer valid given that so many people in prison were named Mohammed.
Many Indonesians are named Mohammed, after the prophet.
Human rights and free speech advocates have expressed concern over the interpretation of the blasphemy law, which has mostly been used against those deemed to have insulted Islam.
Usman Hamid, executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia, said the blasphemy article in the law has caused many “innocent people” to be jailed.
“We urge this article to be abolished,” he said.
Andreas Harsono, the Indonesia researcher for Human Rights Watch, said the case showed “once again, the toxic nature of the blasphemy law in Indonesia”.
The stand-up comedy show was part of a campaign event for Anies Baswedan, who lost the elections in February. Baswedan was absent from the show.
The court in Lampung sentenced Aulia last week, but court documents were only made available days after the decision.
Moreover, it underscores the challenges of balancing freedom of expression with religious sensitivities in a diverse society. While some argue for the protection of religious sentiments, others advocate for the preservation of free speech rights. This case serves as a reminder of the complex interplay between law, culture, and religion in Indonesia.
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