Indonesia Authorities Investigate Case Of Women Over Alleged Quran Desecration
Indonesia reports women face action over Quran incident.
Indonesian authorities have arrested two women on blasphemy charges after a viral video showed one of them allegedly stepping on the Quran during a dispute, with both suspects now facing the possibility of prison sentences under the country’s strict religious defamation laws.
Police in Banten province confirmed that the women were detained earlier this week following the circulation of the video on social media, which sparked widespread public anger in the Muslim-majority nation. The incident is reported to have taken place in Lebak, located about 140 kilometres from Jakarta.
According to police statements, the confrontation began when a salon owner accused a customer of theft and demanded that she swear an oath to prove her innocence. During this exchange, the woman was asked to step on a Quran as part of the oath, and the incident was recorded and later shared online, rapidly going viral across platforms.
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Authorities said both women involved—the individual who allegedly stepped on the Quran and the person who asked her to do so—have admitted to their roles in the incident. Police have named them as suspects under Indonesia’s blasphemy law, which criminalises actions or statements deemed offensive to any of the country’s recognised religions.
If convicted, the women could face up to five years in prison, according to officials. The case has been registered under Indonesia’s religious defamation provisions, which have historically been invoked in several high-profile prosecutions and have drawn criticism from rights groups for their broad application.
Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, has frequently witnessed legal cases involving alleged blasphemy, often triggered by viral social media content. Human rights organisations have previously argued that such laws are sometimes used in ways that disproportionately impact individuals involved in local disputes or minority groups.The latest case has once again reignited debate within Indonesia over the balance between religious protection laws, public order, and freedom of expression, as the judicial process moves forward.
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