Let law take its course<\/p>\n
With the memory of the so-called Monitor case still lingering
\nin our minds, emotions are now once again heated in large
\nsections of our community because of what is perceived to be
\nblasphemous statements made against the Prophet Muhammad. As
\nanyone who has read the newspapers in the past few days must
\nknow, strong reactions have been provoked among Moslem leaders by
\nblasphemous remarks about the Prophet Muhammad, which the well-
\nknown psychic Permadi allegedly made during a panel discussion at
\nYogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University two years ago. The Attorney
\nGeneral and the police are now investigating the case.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, conflicting reports have been circulating and
\nvarying conclusions drawn. Some have said that the soothsayer,
\nwho is a graduate of the University of Indonesia's prestigious
\nlaw school, has branded Prophet Muhammad a dictator. On the other
\nhand, Permadi himself and his lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution have
\nsaid that the statement about the Prophet Muhammad was
\nabbreviated and taken out of context in such a way as to create
\nmisunderstanding.<\/p>\n
Since Permadi's statement is reported to have been recorded on
\ntape, the present police investigation seems to be focused on the
\nrecording and on the statements of witnesses. According to
\nNational Police Chief Gen. Banurusman Astrosemito, Permadi could
\nbe prosecuted under an article of the Indonesian criminal law
\ncode which makes it possible for anyone guilty of statements or
\nacts that are offensive to any of the officially recognized
\nreligions in Indonesia to be punished with a maximum imprisonment
\nterm of five years. According to Gen. Banurusman, the police are
\nstill trying to accumulate as much evidence as is necessary for
\nprosecution.<\/p>\n
In any case, since Indonesia is a country that is based on law
\nand because everyone is expected to respect the supremacy of the
\nlaw and the presumption of innocence, care should be exercised.
\nClearly, pronouncing Permadi either guilty or innocent before the
\ncourt has handed down its verdict must be avoided. It is in this
\ncontext that we see the appeals for calm that have been made by
\nthe authorities in charge of the investigation. These appeals are
\nnot only relevant, but worthy of our serious attention because in
\nfacing sensitive issues of this kind, the authorities have so far
\nalways acted swiftly and competently. After all, allowing such
\nsensitive issues to create unrest among our people will only lead
\nto disunity.<\/p>\n
The Monitor magazine case in 1990, in which demonstrations to
\nprotest an irreverent readers poll involving the Prophet
\nMuhammad's name led to the closure of the magazine and the
\nimprisonment of its editor, should be proof enough of the
\nauthorities' sensitivity in such cases.<\/p>\n
One last word of caution: Both cases should also remind us
\nthat if one cannot speak scientifically or factually about
\nreligious issues in this country one should not speak about them
\nat all. Some topics are simply too sensitive to discuss in public
\nwithout taking extra care not to offend anyone.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/let-law-take-its-course-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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