Gusdurian Network Supports the Release of All Political Prisoners
The Gusdurian Network brought in two political prisoners from the August demonstration case to an event on Sunday, 5 April 2026. The gathering served as a platform for consolidation in support of the release of all political prisoners.
The two political prisoners were Daffa Labidulloh Darmaji and Hanif Bagas Utama. They were freed after the panel of judges at the Surakarta District Court ruled that they were not proven to have committed any criminal acts related to the August 2025 demonstration riots. The pair had been at liberty since 30 March 2026 after being accused of provoking the demonstration by distributing flyers on social media with the hashtag “Murderous Police”.
The two young men recounted their experiences of being imprisoned in front of Alissa Wahid, Director of the Gusdurian Network; Busyro Muqoddas, Chairman of the Law, Human Rights, and Wisdom Division of the Muhammadiyah Central Leadership; Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, a member of the National Conscience Movement; and participants at the halal bihalal event at the Bumi Cendekia Pesantren in Sleman, Yogyakarta.
Daffa described how he and thirty other political prisoners suffered police violence. They endured kicks, punches, burns from lit cigarettes, stapling, and beatings with hoses. “Everyone lives under pressure from behind the prison bars,” said Daffa.
The Gusdurian Network activist was separated from his family for five months while in jail. Daffa expressed his gratitude to all the networks that showed solidarity and worked to secure his release.
He also read a letter from Bogi Setyo Bumo, a political prisoner who could not attend the halal bihalal because he was caring for his ill mother in Pacitan, East Java. Bogi conveyed his thanks to everyone who advocated for his release, particularly the Gusdurian Network. “I hope the people’s movement awakens more broadly and all political prisoners are soon freed,” Bogi stated in the letter.
Alissa Wahid, Director of the Gusdurian Network, said that the experiences of Daffa, Hanif, and Bogi as political prisoners teach the importance of young people’s role in not remaining silent when witnessing social injustice. The arrest and pursuit of hundreds of political prisoners, according to her, illustrates the fragility of Indonesian democracy. Alissa expressed her support for the release of all political prisoners. “Let us strengthen our bonds to preserve democracy,” she said.
Busyro Muqoddas, Chairman of the Law, Human Rights, and Wisdom Division of the Muhammadiyah Central Leadership, urged all groups to consolidate in support of freeing political prisoners. Busyro is now preparing to serve as an expert witness to defend political prisoners in Kediri, East Java, in an upcoming trial.
The former Corruption Eradication Commission Chairman was disappointed with the government for failing to deliver justice in various legal cases. He cited as an example the injustice where the police imposed light sanctions on officers who ran over online motorcycle taxi driver Affan Kurniawan. Affan was crushed by a tactical vehicle belonging to the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Mobile Brigade while police were dispersing a crowd demonstrating in Jakarta.
The National Police’s Professional and Security Division has imposed ethical sanctions on seven police officers in the tactical vehicle that ran over Affan Kurniawan. The seven Mobile Brigade members were given sanctions in two different categories.
Busyro suspects that similar treatment will befall KontraS activist Andrie Yunus, who became a victim of water cannoning by military personnel. “I am concerned that only the small fry will be made defendants, not the intellectual actors,” said Busyro.
Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, a member of the National Conscience Movement, is troubled by the recent weakening of democracy. Lukman assessed that a sense of despair has emerged among activists and civil society regarding the state of democracy. Lukman urged all groups to activate their networks to defend democracy. “When the state weakens, civil society must step in,” he said.