Bareskrim Questions Reporter of Abu Janda Over Alleged Ethnic Hate Speech Against Minang

The Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) of the Indonesian National Police questioned Braditi Moulvey, Secretary General of the Central Executive Board of the Minangkabau Family Association (IKM), on Monday (6/7) regarding his report against social media activist Permadi Arya, also known as Abu Janda, over alleged hate speech based on ethnicity, religion, race, and intergroup relations (SARA). Braditi stated that during the examination, investigators asked him approximately 30 questions related to his report against Abu Janda. “Today we have undergone clarification since this morning, we were invited at 10:00 and have provided evidence and also answered several questions given by the investigator,” Braditi told reporters on Monday. Braditi mentioned that during the examination, his party also submitted supporting evidence in the form of screenshots, videos, video clips from social media, and additional witnesses. Braditi explained that his party hopes the police will soon summon Abu Janda as the reported party for examination and to provide his statement. “We also hope the police will soon summon the reported party, in this case Abu Janda, to provide his statement,” he said. “Where the speech or sermon by Abu Janda at one of the places of worship, allegedly in America, was very hurtful to us Minang people and also the entire community in West Sumatra,” he continued. Previously, the IKM reported Abu Janda to Bareskrim Polri regarding the alleged dissemination of hate speech based on SARA. The report is registered under number LP/B/230/V/2026/SPKT/Bareskrim Polri dated 26 May 2026. In the report, Abu Janda is suspected of violating Article 242 of Law Number 1 of 2023, the Criminal Code, concerning the dissemination of information that incites hatred against certain groups. The Deputy Chairman for Law and Human Rights of the IKM Central Executive Board, Defrizal Djamaris, stated that the report was made because Abu Janda’s remarks were deemed to have hurt the people of West Sumatra, particularly the Minangkabau community. The disputed statement by Abu Janda concerns intolerance. In the statement, Abu Janda referred to Muslim communities in West Java and West Sumatra as harsh, then rhetorically claimed to be confused as to why regions ending in ‘bar’ contained many barbaric people. “There are specific words that attack or constitute hate speech against a particular ethnic group, namely the people of West Sumatra, the majority of whom are Minangkabau,” he told reporters. “It was stated there (by Abu Janda) that the intolerant regions are West Sumatra and West Java, and those ending in ‘bar’ are considered barbaric people, as if the people there are barbarians,” he added. Regarding the report, Abu Janda stated that he never insulted the people of West Sumatra. According to him, if the complainant already harbours hatred towards him, then anything he does could be perceived as an insult. “I did not insult the people of West Sumatra. But if the basis is already hatred for Abu Janda, then it is difficult; even if I did not insult, it could be considered an insult,” Abu Janda said when contacted.