By Ainur Rohmah
JAKARTA
An Indonesian editor-in-chief has been named a suspect in a blasphemy case after the English-language Jakarta Post newspaper published a cartoon that allegedly insults Islam.
Indonesia's Alliance of Independent Journalists denounced Friday a police summons for Meidyatama Suryodiningrat, with chairman Suwarjono – who like many Indonesians uses only one name – telling The Anadolu Agency, "Jakarta Post has apologized and stated the caricature was revoked."
In the cartoon, published July 3, a skull and crossbones image is placed at the center of the flag of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), with Islamic phrases in Arabic script remaining above and inside the scull.
Suwarjono told AA the cartoon had not meant to insult any particular religion but rather aimed at reminding the public about the dangers of an extremist organization that could threaten civil order and the freedom of speech.
He said, "It is the authority of the Press Council to deal with and resolve this case. If police continue to move this case, it will be a criminalization of media."
Jakarta police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Rikwanto said Thursday, "the suspect will be examined as early as next week."
He added that if found guilty, Meydiatama could face a penalty of five years in prison, according to the Tempo.co news website.
Meydiatama was accused of blasphemy by an Islamic group called Jakarta Talbligh and Dakwah Assembly.
After the Post issued an apology, the group’s head Edy Mulyadi was quoted July 15 by Tempo.co as stressing that a criminal complaint must be filed and saying, "let there be a deterrent effect, so that the media is more cautious."
In a statement Friday, Meidyatama expressed amazement at the accusations against the newspaper.
He said: "What we produced was a journalistic piece that criticized the ISIL movement, which has carried out violence in the name of religion. It means the ISIL cartoon was not blasphemous caricature. We all know that ISIL is an organization that is banned in Indonesia and across almost the entire world."
The Post received a statement from the government-sanctioned Press Council stating the case was related to journalism's code of ethics and not a criminal matter, said Meidyatama, adding he would nonetheless respect the ongoing process.
ISIL has captured large swathes of land in Iraq and Syria, later declaring the territories under its control an Islamic "caliphate."
www.aa.com.tr/en
