08/28/2021 Indonesia (International Christian Concern) – On August 26, a Muslim cleric was arrested and charged by the Indonesian police with blasphemy for allegedly insulting Christians.

Muhammad Yahya Waloni, a former protestant, was nabbed from his Jakarta residence three days after a Muslim background Christian was arrested for allegedly insulting Islam.

A group reported Yahya to the Criminal Investigation Department regarding allegations of religious blasphemy back in April. The report is registered in the number LP/B/0287/IV/2021/BARESKRIM. He is accused of insulting Christianity calling the Bible fictitious and false in one of his sermons.

The head of the Public Information Bureau (Karopenmas) of the National Police, Brigadier General Rusdi Hartono, told CNN Indonesia, “(The arrest was in connection with) blasphemy of religion. It will be explained in more detail later, we are waiting for data from the Criminal Investigation Department.”

The recent arrests of religious figures follow a call by Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas for a crackdown on people committing blasphemy and hate speech.

According to UCA News, Philip Situmorang, spokesman of the Communion of Churches in Indonesia, said in a statement that people must think wisely before making statements about other religions. Authorities should pursue Yahya’s case in the same way they would treat Kace’s.

“In cases of blasphemy, police and law enforcement officials must be fair instead of siding with a certain group. Christians have been arrested and brought to court in blasphemy cases, while those insulting Christianity or other religions have been left alone,” he said.

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