AsiaCivil LibertiesCivil RightsFeaturesGlobal IssuesHuman RightsLaw & OrderPoliticsSocietyWorld
Behind Bars for ‘Blasphemy’ in Indonesia
Social Commentator Imprisoned for Posts Critical of Religious, Governmental Authorities
This month marks the third year behind bars for 74-year-old Apollinaris Darmawan.
He was convicted under Indonesian law for “blasphemy” for writing a book and posting on social media his criticisms of Indonesia’s Muslim leaders and Islamic law.
His prosecution violates his rights to freedom of expression and belief protected by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and other treaties ratified by Indonesia.
Darmawan is a retired railway company executive who converted from Islam to Catholicism. In August 2020, a…