The leader of a Christian church was arrested in Indonesia, purportedly for his comments on a social media video that authorities deemed to be hate speech.
Dedi Saputra, who serves a church in Suka Maju village in Indonesia’s West Kaliman province, was arrested Feb. 18. Authorities and Islamic groups claimed he had defamed the Prophet Muhammad, reported Morning Star News, drawing information from news and internet sources.
Check out more stories on the persecuted church.
Saputra, a former Muslim, reportedly uploaded a video to TikTok last year that supposedly insulted Muhammad, reported Morning Star, referencing information from MetroTv.com. The video in question garnered 1.9 million views.
According to Morning Star, the government of Saputra’s native Aceh province, as well as Islamic groups, reported Saputra’s video to Aceh Regional Police last November.
Criminal code
Arif Mirdjaja, who is director of the Center for Inter-Religious Studies and Traditions, said the criminal code that went into effect Jan. 2 no longer lists blasphemy as an offense.
“In the new criminal code, the blasphemy article has been removed, so Dedi can no longer be charged with blasphemy,” Mirdjaja told Morning Star.
Muslims constitute the majority of Aceh’s population.
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