BRIN Member Faces Inquiry Over Hate Speech Against Muhammadiyah Community

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Andi Pangerang Hasanuddin, a researcher for the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), has been taken to Jakarta in an inquiry by the Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) after he was initially arrested at his hometown in East Java over hate speech charges.

The National Police’s cybercrime investigation unit has named Andi a suspect after making a comment online that threatened members of the Muhammadiyah organization via his Facebook account. 

His initial social media comment threatened to kill each and every member of Muhammadiyah – one of the two major Muslim organizations – after an online argument regarding the different interpretations between the Muslim community on determining the first day of Syawal, which effectively determines when the holy month of Ramadan ends. 

Bareskrim Director of Cybercrime Adi Vivid A Bactiar said authorities have not technically put Andi under arrest before conducting in-depth interrogations. 

“He is still being questioned by the Bareksrim cybercrime unit,” said Vivid. 

Andi is charged for allegedly violating the law overseeing hate speech motivated by tribal, religious, racial, and societal groups (SARA) against other communities under the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (UU ITE) Article 28 (2) in conjunction with Article 45A (2) and Article 29 in conjunction with Article 45B of Law No.19/2016.

East Java's Nahdlatul Ulama (PWNU) Regional Executive Board (PWNU) appreciates the Police's move to arrest BRIN researcher AP Hasanuddin.

"The East Java NU gives full support to the Police Criminal Investigation Unit which has arrested the perpetrator of hate speech and threats to Muhammadiyah," said Deputy Chairman of the East Java PWNU, K.H. Abdussalam Shohib in a written statement on Sunday.

ANTARA

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