Human Rights and Constitutionality Issues of Blasphemy Law in Indonesia

Authors

  • Ismail Hasani UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta
  • Halili Halili State University of Yogyakarta

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31078/jk1927

Keywords:

Blasphemy Law, Constitutional Court, Judicial Review

Abstract


This article analyzes human rights and constitutionality issues in the Indonesian Blasphemy Law. It contributes urgently to constitutional studies since constitutionalism requires respect for human rights and democracy obliges to uphold the supremacy of the constitution. This article was written as the results of research through the desk-study using descriptive-qualitative approach. Data were collected through document study and Internal Focus Group Discussion. Indonesia's blasphemy laws inherently violate human rights and are prone to politicization which places religious minorities in vulnerability, while the main legal provisions that criminalize blasphemy have been tested for their constitutionality dimensions by the Constitutional Court. However, the constitutionality issue remains, partly because the Constitutional Court affirmed a religious constitution whereas the Republic of Indonesia is a Pancasila based state. In addition, the Constitutional Court ignores human rights, particularly the right to freedom of religion/belief as guaranteed by the constitution.

Author Biographies

Ismail Hasani, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta

Department of Constitutional LawFaculty of Syaria and Law

Halili Halili, State University of Yogyakarta

Department of Pancasila and Citizenship EducationFaculty of Social Sciences

References

Book

Asad, Talal. The Idea of an Anthropology of Islam. Washington DC: Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, Georgetown University, 1986.

Fiss, Joelle, and Jocelyn Getgen Kestenbaum. Respecting Rights? Measuring The World’s Blasphemy Laws. Washington DC: United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, 2017.

Halili. Supremasi Intoleransi: Laporan Kondisi Kebebasan Beragama/Berkeyakinan Dan Minoritas Keagamaan Di Indonesia Tahun 2016. Jakarta: Pustaka Masyarakat Setara, 2017.

Hasan, Noorhaidi. “Salafism in Indonesia: Transnational Islam, Violent Activism, and Cultural Resistance.” In Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Indonesia, edited by Robert W. Hefner, 246–56. London: Routledge, 2018.

Hasani, Ismail, and Bonar Tigor Naipospos. Negara Menyangkal: Kondisi Kebebasan Beragama/Berkeyakinan Di Indonesia 2010. Jakarta: Pustaka Masyarakat Setara, 2011.

Hefner, Robert W. “Indonesia at the Crossroads: Imbroglios of Religion, State, and Society in an Asian Muslim Nation.” In Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Indonesia, 3–30. London: Routledge, 2018.

Lindholm, Tore. Kebebasan Beragama Atau Berkeyakinan: Seberapa Jauh?: Sebuah Referensi Tentang Prinsip-Prinsip Dan Praktek. Yogyakarta: Kanisius, 2010.

Margiyono. Bukan Jalan Tengah: Eksaminasi Publik Putusan Mahkamah Konstitusi Perihal Pengujian Undang-Undang Nomor 1 PNPS Tahun 1965 Tentang Penyalahgunaan Dan/Atau Penodaan Agama. Jakarta: The Indonesian Legal Resource Center (ILRC), 2010.

Notohamidjojo, O. Makna Negara Hukum Bagi Pembaharuan Negara Dan Wibawa Hukum Bagi Pembaharuan Masjarakat Di Indonesia. Djakarta: Badan Penerbit Kristen, 1970.

Robertson, David. A Dictionary of Human Rights. London: Europa Publication, 2004.

Sihombing, Uli Parulian, Fulthoni, and Renata Arianingtyas. Menggugat BAKORPAKEM Kajian Hukum Terhadap Pengawasan Agama Dan Kepercayaan Di Indonesia. Jakarta: The Indonesian Legal Resource Center (ILRC), 2008.

Sihombing, Uli Parulian, Pultoni, Siti Aminah, and Muhammad Khoirul Roziqin. Ketidakadilan Dalam Beriman: Hasil Monitoring Kasus-Kasus Penodaan Agama Dan Ujaran Kebencian Atas Dasar Agama Di Indonesia. Jakarta: The Indonesia Legal Resources Center (ILRC), 2012.

Sudarto. Kondisi Pemenuhan Hak Konstitusional Penghayat Kepercayaan Terhadap Tuhan Yang Maha Esa. Jakarta: Pustaka Masyarakat Setara, 2017.

Suwariyati, Titik, and Imam Syaukani. Kompilasi Kebijakan Dan Peraturan Perundang-Undangan Kerukunan Umat Beragama. Jakarta: Puslitbang Kehidupan Keagamaan, 2008.

Venice Commission. Blasphemy, Insult and Hatred: Finding Answers in a Democratic Society (Science and Technique of Democracy, No. 47). Strasbourg: Council of Europe Publishing, 2010.

Journal

Ahmed, Dawood I., and Moamen Gouda. “Measuring Constitutional Islamization: The Islamic Constitutions Index.” Hastings International & Comparative Law Review 38, no. 1 (2014).

Butt, Simon. “Islam, The State and the Constitutional Court in Indonesia.” Pacific Rim Law & Policy Journal Association 19, no. 2 (2010): 279–301.

Iqbal, Zahid, and Sumaira Lodhi. “Extremist and Religious Violence: An Economic Overview of Pakistan.” International Journal of Research in Applied, Natural and Social Sciences 2, no. 11 (2014): 195–212.

Khan, Amjad Mahmood. “How Anti-Blasphemy Laws Engender Terrorism.” Harvard International Law Journal Online 56 (2015).

Lindsey, Tim. “Indonesian Constitutional Reform: Muddling Towards Democracy.” Singapore Journal of International and Comparative Law 6 (2002): 244–301.

Menchik, Jeremy. “Productive Intolerance: Godly Nationalism in Indonesia.” Comparative Studies in Society and History 56, no. 3 (2014): 591–621.

Simmons, Beth. “Civil Rights in International Law: Compliance with Aspects of the ‘International Bill of Rights.’” Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies 16, no. 2 (2009): 437–81.

Others

Bagir, Zainal Abidin, Suhadi Cholil, Mustaghfiroh Rahayu, Ali Amin, Endy Saputro, and Budi Ashari. “Antara ‘Penodaan’ Dan ‘Kerukunan’ Makalah Posisi Mengenai UU No. 1 / PNPS / 1965.” Yogyakarta: Program Studi Agama dan Lintas Budaya, Sekolah Pascasarjana, Universitas Gadjah Mada, 2010.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide. “Indonesia: Pluralism in Peril, the Rise of Religious Intolerance Across the Archipelago.” Surrey, 2014.
“Communication No. 694/1996: Canada. 05/11/99. CCPR/C/67/D/694/1996.”

Freedom House. “Policing Belief: The Impact of Blasphemy Laws on Human Rights – Indonesia,” 2010.

Grim, Brian J. “Laws Penalizing Blasphemy, Apostasy and Defamation of Religion Are Widespread,” 2020. http://www.pewforum.org/2012/11/21/laws-penalizing-blasphemy-apostasy-and-defamation-of-religion-are-widespread/.

Human Rights Committee. “General Comment No. 34, Article 19 (Freedoms of Opinion and Expression) U.N. Doc. CCPR/C/GC/34, 48,” 2011.

Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Pidana, Bab V Kejahatan terhadap Ketertiban Umum, Pasal 156.

Magnis-Suseno, Franz. “Sekitar Hal Penodaan Agama: Beberapa Catatan Keterangan Ahli Judicial Review UU No. 1/PNPS/1965.” Jakarta, 2010.

Manchin, Gayle, and Nadine Maenza. “Indonesia Should Prevent Religious Conflict, but Its Blasphemy Law Does More Harm Than Good,” 2019. https://www.uscirf.gov/news-room/op-eds/globe-post-indonesia-should-prevent-religious-conflict-its-blasphemy-law-does-more.

Mudzakkir, Sri Mulyani, Abd. Rahman Mas’ud, Asep Kurnia, Amirsyah, Evi Djuniarti, Henry Donald, Febriany Tri Wijayanti, Lili Wuryani, and Bahrudin Zuhri. “Analisis Dan Evaluasi Undang-Undang No 1 PNPS Tahun 1965 Tentang Pencegahan Penyalahgunaan Dan/Atau Penodaan Agama.” Jakarta, 2011.

Penetapan Presiden RI Nomor 1/PNPS Tahun 1965 tentang Pencegahan Penyalahgunaan dan/atau Penodaan Agama (n.d.).

Putusan Mahkamah Konstitusi Nomor 140/PUU-VII/2009 (2009).

Putusan Mahkamah Konstitusi Nomor 5/PUU-XVII/2019 (2019).

Putusan Mahkamah Konstitusi Nomor 76/PUU-XVI/2018 (2018).

Putusan Mahkamah Konstitusi Nomor 84/PUU-X/2012 (2012).

The Asia Foundation. “Understanding Social Exclusion in Indonesia: A Meta-Analysis of Program Peduli’s Theory of Change Documents,” 2016.

Ubbe, Ahmad. “Laporan Pengakajian Dan Hukum Tentang Mekanisme Pananganan Konflik Sosial.” Jakarta: Pusat Penelitian dan Pengembangan Sistem Hukum Nasional Badan Pembinaan Hukum Nasional Kementerian Hukum dan HAM RI, 2017.

Undang-Undang Dasar Negara Republik Indonesia Tahun 1945 (n.d.).

Undang-Undang Nomor 1/PNPS Tahun 1965 tentang Pencegahan Penyalahgunaan dan/atau Penodaan Agama (n.d.).

Undang-Undang Nomor 39 Tahun 1999 tentang Hak Asasi Manusia (n.d.).

United Nations Human Rights Council. “Annual Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Addendum Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the Expert Workshops on the Prohibition of Incitement to National, Racial or Religious Hatred,” 2013.

United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. “Indonesia: USCIRF-Recommended for Special Watch List,” n.d.

———. “Respecting Rights? Measuring The World’s Blasphemy Laws.” Washington DC, 2017.

Wahid Foundation. “Kemajuan Tanpa Penyelesaian Masalah: Laporan Tahunan Kemerdekaan Beragama/Berkeyakinan (KBB) Di Indonesia 2019.” Jakarta, 2020.

———. “‘Ringkasan Eksekutif’ Laporan Tahunan Kemerdekaan Beragama Berkeyakinan (KBB) Di Indonesia Tahun 2016 Wahid Foundation.” Jakarta, 2016.

Downloads

Published

2022-06-02

How to Cite

Hasani, Ismail, and Halili Halili. 2022. “Human Rights and Constitutionality Issues of Blasphemy Law in Indonesia”. Jurnal Konstitusi 19 (2):406-30. https://doi.org/10.31078/jk1927.

Issue

Section

Articles