Police Arrest Acehnese Man over Alleged Blasphemy on TikTok
Aceh Regional Police have arrested a man from Aceh identified by the initials DS (Dedi Saputra) on suspicion of insulting the Prophet Muhammad through social media platform TikTok. The man, who operated the account @tersadarkan5758, was apprehended after his video went viral and drew widespread public condemnation.
The Director of Special Criminal Investigation (Dirreskrimsus) of Aceh Regional Police, Commissioner Wahyudi, through Unit 3 Head of the Cyber Subdivision Inspector Adam Maulana, said the suspect was arrested in Bengkayang Regency, West Kalimantan, on 18 February 2026.
“The individual was arrested in Bengkayang Regency, West Kalimantan on 18 February,” Adam said when asked for confirmation on Saturday (21 February).
According to video released by the official account of the Aceh Regional Police’s Dirreskrimsus, Dedi was apprehended on a main road whilst riding a motorcycle. Following his arrest, he was immediately taken to Aceh Regional Police Headquarters for further examination.
Adam explained that investigators had designated Dedi as a suspect and he is currently being held in the Aceh Regional Police detention facility.
In this case, Dedi has been charged under several articles relating to the alleged criminal offence of disseminating information that incites hatred or hostility based on ethnicity, religion, race, and inter-group relations (known by the Indonesian acronym SARA).
He is accused of violating Article 45A paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 28 paragraph (2) of Law Number 1 of 2024 concerning the Second Amendment to Law Number 11 of 2008 on Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE Law).
Additionally, he has been charged under Article 156a as well as Article 300 in conjunction with Article 301 paragraph (1) of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code (KUHP).
The alleged offence is said to have taken place at Jalan KH Ahmad Dahlan No. 1, Merduati, Kuta Raja Sub-district, Banda Aceh, on 8 October 2025.
A report against Dedi had previously been received by Aceh Regional Police under reference number LP/B/357/XI/2025/SPKT/Polda Aceh on Wednesday, 5 November 2025. The report was filed by the General Chairman of PW PII Aceh (Aceh branch of the Indonesian Islamic Students Movement), Mohd Rendi Febriansyah.
Rendi stated that the report was made jointly with several parties, including the Aceh Sharia Islam Office, the Civil Service Police Unit/Wilayatul Hisbah (Sharia enforcement police) of Aceh, and other Islamic community organisations. They considered Dedi’s uploaded video to contain elements of insult towards the Prophet Muhammad and towards Muslim converts.
The video was uploaded through the TikTok account @tersadarkan5758. In the recording, which had been viewed approximately 1.9 million times, Dedi explained his reasons for converting from Islam to Christianity.
However, in his account, he allegedly made statements deemed insulting to the Prophet Muhammad and offensive to Muslim converts.
The video was subsequently widely shared by internet users and flooded with various comments before ultimately leading to a police report.
Investigators are currently continuing to examine the case and completing the investigation files for further legal proceedings.