Christian in Indonesia Arrested for Feedback on Muhammad

Tablighi Jamaat Mosque in Montasik District, Aceh Besar Regency, Aceh Province, Indonesia. (Si Gam, Creative Commons)

Tablighi Jamaat Mosque in Montasik District, Aceh Besar Regency, Aceh Province, Indonesia. (Si Gam, Artistic Commons)

SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star Information) – A Christian chief in West Kaliman Province was arrested on Feb. 18 for feedback he made about Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, sources mentioned.

Police arrested Dedi Saputra as he and his spouse had been on their manner dwelling from shopping for private gadgets and provides for the church he serves in Suka Maju village, Sungai Betung Sub-District, Bengkayang Regency, in accordance with information stories.

Police from Saputra’s native Aceh Province arrested him, and he was detained on the Bengkayang Police Station and the Pontianak Regional Police Headquarters in West Kaliman Province earlier than he was flown to Aceh Provincial Police Headquarters on Feb. 20, Aceh-based Serambinews.com reported.

After authorities and Islamic organizations accused him of spiritual defamation and hate speech associated to movies posted on his social media account, he was reportedly charged below Indonesia’s Digital Data and Transactions Regulation (ITE) and the Indonesian Prison Code (KUHP) for allegedly spreading non secular hate speech.

Police in Aceh mentioned he was being held at Aceh Regional Police Detention Middle for investigation.

Of their arrest, police stopped the bike he and his spouse, Etfy, had been driving, stopping them from persevering with their journey. Police took her to the church the place her husband serves as a result of she can not drive, in accordance with Komparatif.id.

In a TikTok video uploaded by Anggu Perman, Saputra mentioned police didn’t handcuff him and allowed him to return the church bike to the church website.

Saputra, a former Muslim, was arrested for allegedly insulting Muhammad by way of his TikTok account @tersadarkan5758, in accordance with MetroTv.com. Uploaded late final 12 months, the video has been considered round 1.9 million instances and sparked widespread response on social media.

In a TikTok video edited and uploaded by Kenzie De Jann Weringkukly because the @tersadarkan5758 account was deleted, Weringkukly claims the video he uploaded was the reason for Saputra’s arrest. Within the video, Saputra solutions a netizen’s query about changing to a different faith by stating, “Muhammad, earlier than turned a prophet, had just one spouse, however when he turned a prophet, he had a dozen wives.”

Weringkukly reinforces Saputra’s rationalization by exhibiting an article revealed in Suara Muhammadiyah journal that states, “Earlier than his prophethood (between the ages of 25 and 40), the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, had just one spouse, Siti Khadijah bint Khuwaylid. Throughout this era, he by no means practiced polygamy, and Khadijah was his solely spouse till her demise. A number of years after his prophethood, he had 11 to 13 wives, often called Ummahatul Mukminin (Foster Moms of the Believers). Many of the marriages passed off in Medina for social and humanitarian causes, and to strengthen tribal ties, with Khadijah (his first spouse) as his solely spouse in Mecca. When he died, he left behind 9 wives.”

This assertion is believed to have contributed to sparking anger amongst Muslims. The Aceh Provincial Communication, Data, and Cryptography Workplace, on its official web site, diskominfo.acehprov.go.id, reported that the Aceh authorities, together with a number of Islamic organizations, agreed to report the proprietor of the TikTok account @tersadarkan5758 to the Aceh Regional Police on Nov. 4.

The choice was reportedly the results of a gathering with varied officers, together with representatives of Aceh’s Islamic organizations and youth organizations. The top of the Aceh Islamic Sharia Workplace, Zahrol Fajri, acknowledged that the assembly addressed the issues of the neighborhood and Islamic organizations concerning Saputra’s feedback on his TikTok account.

The case was quickly reported below No. LP/B/357/XI/2025/SPKT/Aceh Police by Mohamad Rendi Febriansyah, basic chairperson of the Aceh Department of the Indonesian Islamic College students Regional Board, together with authorities officers such because the Aceh Islamic Sharia Workplace, the Civil Service Police Unit, the Aceh Sharia Regulation Enforcement Pressure and different Islamic neighborhood organizations, in accordance with Beritaborneo.com.

“We reported the content material as a result of we imagine it has damage the emotions of Muslims,” Rendi reportedly mentioned. “The video has additionally circulated extensively and sparked unrest locally.”

The Middle for Inter-Non secular Research and Traditions (CFIRST) urged police to stay impartial and make sure the security of Saputra. CFIRST Director Arif Mirdjaja mentioned the brand new Prison Code (Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Pidana, KUHP), carried out on Jan. 2, now not contains an article on blasphemy.

“Within the new Prison Code, the blasphemy article has been eliminated, so Dedi can now not be charged with blasphemy,” Arif mentioned on Sunday (Feb. 22).

He mentioned the case may set a adverse precedent for non secular freedom.

“Non secular freedom is a non-derogable proper that can’t be diminished below any circumstances,” Arif mentioned. “The state is obliged to ensure safety to all residents with out exception.”

Responding to TVOneNews’ Instagram publish, the proprietor of Fb account Ibaupaulo posted that such instances are what “prevents this nation from progressing, as a result of the state/authorities remains to be busy managing its residents’ religion…however forgets its duty to develop human assets and character.”

One other Fb account, Rudal, accused the police of favoritism, posting, “There was an incident the place somebody insulted the crucifixion of a pagan genie, however why weren’t they arresting him?”

Deni Febrianus Nafi, director of the Ahavah Authorized Assist Institute, was appointed lawyer for the Saputra household, in accordance with medialiterasi.com.

Positioned on the northernmost tip of Sumatra Province, Aceh shares borders with Singapore and India and has particular autonomy to implement sharia (Islamic regulation). The vast majority of its inhabitants is Muslim, with solely about 1.5 p.c figuring out as Christian. Different religions are additionally acknowledged in Indonesia.

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