TEMPO.CO, Jakarta- Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH) filed Amicus Curiae (a brief filed by someone who is not party to a case) in the blasphemy case against Basuki Tjahaja Purnama known as Ahok.
LBH Jakarta director Alghiffari Aqsa claimed that Ahok has fallen victim to the use of an anti-democracy article.
Alghiffari stated that the statement made by Basuki or Ahok in Pramuka island, Seribu Islands on September last year could not at all be considered as religious tafsir (interpretation).
"Ahok actually criticized a subject of law (people) or certain parties that use religious articles (Koran) to deceive the public in political activities," he said on Saturday (15/4).
Alghiffari explained that such a statement did not meet bad intent as required to be proven in line with Article 156a Criminal Code (KUHP). In this case, Ahok’s statement is protected by the freedom of speech and expression as stipulated by Article 28E of Law No.9/1998.
"It is the spread of negative interpretation in social media over Ahok’s statement that actually causes an uproar in the society," Alghiffari said.
He mentioned that there was a third party who interpreted Ahok’s statement. This third party did not even listen, witness, or directly experience the moment when the statement was uttered.
MAYA AYU PUSPITASARI