Roundup: Indonesia mulling re-enacting blasphemy law to protect president

The Indonesian government proposed a legal code bill to the parliament that is highly expected to be enacted into a law which part of the articles was a five-year imprisonment for those spreading blasphemy against the president.

The legal code bill sparked controversy at home with activists feared that it would be used to curb criticism against the president, to be misused as means to oppress those who speak out to criticize the government in the democracy nation.

They also feared that apparatus would use any means possible to arrest those criticizing the president, try them in the court, charge them with legal articles that they make up, or so-called rubber articles.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has been facing harsh critics at home for his ways to run his government and the difficulties felt by the people affected by his unpopular policies that led to soaring prices of staple goods, transportation and other necessities in people's daily life.

The criticisms were widely launched by people in public spaces that can be read by those who have the access to social media.

Commenting on the blasphemy law stipulated in the legal code bill, Widodo said it was aimed at protecting the critics. He said his critics should abide by the law if they do not want to be processed with legal articles.

"This is to protect the president in his capacity as the symbol of the nation. It would also serve the next president as well," the president said on Tuesday.

A member of the president's communication team Teten Masduki said the idea to legalize the blasphemy law was initiated during the administration of then-president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in 2012.

"But the discussion at the parliament was not finished. It was then returned to the government," Teten said on Tuesday.

He added that the punishment would only be applied for those who launched slander against the president.

A legal analyst, who is a former chief of the nation's highest legal institution, the Constitution Court (MK), Jimly Asshiddiqie said the initiative to enact the blasphemy law would make Indonesia see cultural setback as it would become a feudal country.

"In a feudal country, the one who will be irritated by the critics is the legal enforcer, not the president. This situation would hinder democracy and free speech regime," Jimly said on Wednesday.

In line with Jimly, Head of Justice and Welfare faction at the parliament Jazuli Juwaini regarded that application of the blasphemy law would halt democracy. Instead of taking efforts to enact the blasphemy law, Jazuli called on the government to focus its efforts to improve the nation's economy which now facing difficulties. Endi