Arrested Indonesian Atheist Faces New Possible Charges - The West Sumatran man facing five years in prison for blasphemy for questioning the existence of God may face additional charges, according to police.
Thirty-one-year-old Alexander Aan may also be charged with falsifying documents because he checked off Muslim when he applied for his civil servant position.
“He said he was an atheist, but when he applied for a job as civil servant he said he was Muslim,” Dharmasraya Police Chief Sr. Comr. Chairul Aziz said on Tuesday.
Local online outlet Padang Ekspres also said that during Alexander’s interrogation, police officers forced him to pick one of the six state-approved religions, even though he insisted he was an atheist.
“I will consider picking one of the religions in Indonesia,” Alexander told Padang Ekspres. “Most likely I will choose Islam.”
Members of the Ateis Minang Facebook page have doubled since news broke of Alexander’s arrest, but the page is now half filled with other users attacking atheism. The post police used to charge Alexander was deleted by the page administrator.
International atheist organizations have openly stated their support for Alexander.
“The real crime here is the physical assault on Aan, not his expression of his personal beliefs,” International Humanist and Ethical Union representative Matt Cherry said in a statement, adding that the union had asked the United Nations to raise the case with Indonesian authorities.
“Alexander simply expressed his view that there is no God,” said Tanya Smith, president of Atheist Alliance International. “In contrast, his attackers assaulted a real person and must be brought to justice.” ( thejakartaglobe.com )
Thirty-one-year-old Alexander Aan may also be charged with falsifying documents because he checked off Muslim when he applied for his civil servant position.
“He said he was an atheist, but when he applied for a job as civil servant he said he was Muslim,” Dharmasraya Police Chief Sr. Comr. Chairul Aziz said on Tuesday.
Local online outlet Padang Ekspres also said that during Alexander’s interrogation, police officers forced him to pick one of the six state-approved religions, even though he insisted he was an atheist.
“I will consider picking one of the religions in Indonesia,” Alexander told Padang Ekspres. “Most likely I will choose Islam.”
Members of the Ateis Minang Facebook page have doubled since news broke of Alexander’s arrest, but the page is now half filled with other users attacking atheism. The post police used to charge Alexander was deleted by the page administrator.
International atheist organizations have openly stated their support for Alexander.
“The real crime here is the physical assault on Aan, not his expression of his personal beliefs,” International Humanist and Ethical Union representative Matt Cherry said in a statement, adding that the union had asked the United Nations to raise the case with Indonesian authorities.
“Alexander simply expressed his view that there is no God,” said Tanya Smith, president of Atheist Alliance International. “In contrast, his attackers assaulted a real person and must be brought to justice.” ( thejakartaglobe.com )
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