Doctor Tifa Demands Jokowi Attend Trial, Present Original Diploma
Tifauzia Tyassuma, known as Dr Tifa, has requested that Indonesia’s 7th President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) present his original diploma during proceedings at the East Jakarta District Court. Dr Tifa is the defendant in a case concerning alleged defamation and slander linked to the authenticity of Jokowi’s diploma.
“So, how can Mr Joko Widodo prove that I have defamed him, that I have slandered him,” Dr Tifa told reporters at the East Jakarta District Court on Thursday, 2 July 2026. “Then Mr Joko Widodo is obliged to show his original diploma. Not only in court, but also to the public,” she continued.
She explained that the accusations of defamation and slander levelled against her by prosecutors must first be substantiated. “The monthly, yearly accusations, namely those relating to the articles on defamation and slander, please prove first where I committed defamation, where I committed slander,” she stated. This is because the object discussed so far has only been a digital document circulating on social media.
Furthermore, Dr Tifa assessed that Jokowi is legally obliged to attend the trial in person because the case ensnaring her is a complaint-based offence. “Therefore, because this is also a complaint-based offence, defamation and slander, Mr Joko Widodo is absolutely, legally obliged to attend the trial. Not through mechanisms as conveyed by his advocates,” Dr Tifa asserted.
It was previously reported that the Public Prosecutor charged Tifauzia Tyassuma, or Dr Tifa, with committing criminal acts of slander and defamation related to her statements about the authenticity of the diploma of Indonesia’s 7th President Joko Widodo. This was conveyed by the Prosecutor during Dr Tifa’s inaugural hearing at the East Jakarta District Court on Thursday, 2 July 2026. The Prosecutor explained that in March 2025, witness Syarif Muhammad showed Jokowi three social media posts on X that attacked Jokowi’s honour and reputation, essentially accusing Jokowi’s undergraduate diploma of being fake. One of these three posts was made by Dr Tifa.