188:, first supporting the petition of the Asian Human Rights Commission, organized a protest outside the Indonesian Embassy in Washington, DC on 18 June 2012, calling for Indonesian authorities to release and exonerate Aan. A second CFI-organized protest outside the Indonesian Consulate in New York City took place on July 6. CFI also sent a letter demanding for Aan's release to the Indonesia Embassy through its Office of Public Policy.
134:. On 18 January, an angry mob attacked Aan on his way to work, causing police to take him into protective custody. Two days later, he was charged with "disseminating information aimed at inciting religious hatred or hostility". The district police chief also stated that Aan had lied on his application for his government job, claiming to be Muslim. On 14 June, the
199:
groups, stated that the potential five-year sentence was not enough, and that Aan should be executed. The organization's secretary-general stated, "What he has done cannot be tolerated... it is important to prevent this group from spreading atheism in this country." The atheist
Facebook group which
105:
province. Though he had been raised as a Muslim, Aan raised doubts about its god by age 11, and stopped participating in religious rituals in 2008. In
January 2012, he posted to an atheist Facebook group he had joined, writing, "If God exists, why do bad things happen? ... There should only be
138:
district court found Aan guilty of "disseminating information aimed at inciting religious hatred or hostility" and sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment and a fine of 100 million rupiah (US$ 10,600). During the sentencing, the presiding judge described Aan's actions as having "caused
174:
began a campaign on Aan's behalf, stating that his case "highlights the fundamental principles of freedom of expression and freedom of conscience and the discrimination faced by atheists, particularly in
Islamic countries." An opinion column in
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159:
responded by designating
Alexander a prisoner of conscience, describing the sentence as "a serious setback for freedom of expression in Indonesia". The organization called for Alexander's immediate release.
805:
599:
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director
Hendardi described the requested sentence as "excessive", a demonstration of "the arbitrariness of the law and law enforcement officials", and a violation of the
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of members of only six religions: Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Confucianism, Buddhism, and
Hinduism. Members of religious minorities often face persecution.
192:
147:
Aan's arrest caused "outrage" among both domestic and international religious freedom activists, and several petitions were circulated calling for his release.
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he founded saw a surge in membership, up to 2,000. However, most of these were against atheists and Aan; some postings included calls for atheists to be
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also called for
Alexander's release, stating that his actions did not "pose a threat to public order" and were covered by freedom of religion.
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described the charges as "a blight on
Indonesia's democratic credentials" and a threat to Indonesia's attractiveness to foreign investors.
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stated that
Alexander's sentence suggested "a threat to Indonesia's religious minorities" in light of recent attacks by extremists. The
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that were judged to be "disseminating information aimed at inciting religious hatred or hostility" by the
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anxiety to the community and tarnished Islam". On 27 January 2014, Aan was released from prison.
800:
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82:
725:
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8:
747:"Center for Inquiry Calls for Alexander Aan's Freedom in Letter to Indonesian Ambassador"
248:
378:"From Lady Gaga to Atheist Alexander to DBS, Indonesia Is Sending Investors Bad Signals"
185:
161:
70:
177:
148:
495:
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78:
789:
98:
201:
102:
726:"IMPORTANT: Protest in Support of Jailed Indonesian Atheist Alexander Aan"
665:"Atheist Group Launches Efforts to Help Jailed Facebook User in Indonesia"
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descent. He was imprisoned in 2012 for posting comments and images to
287:"Indonesia: Atheist imprisonment a setback for freedom of expression"
131:
66:
442:"Atheist Indonesian in protective custody after being beaten by mob"
196:
123:
74:
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as "attracted to his daughter-in-law". The posts were seen by the
62:
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district court. The sentence sparked national debate and caused
806:
704:"Protest in Support of Jailed Indonesian Atheist Alexander Aan"
690:"URGENT: Add Your Voice to Support Jailed Atheist in Indonesia"
107:
600:"Activists Call for Acquittal of Embattled Atheist Alexander"
119:
115:
111:
408:"Amnesty Calls for Release of Jailed Indonesian Atheist"
315:"Indonesia's atheists face battle for religious freedom"
631:"Man jailed in Indonesia for atheist Facebook posts"
553:. Agence France-Presse. 14 June 2012. Archived from
518:"Indonesian charged with blasphemy for atheist post"
341:
153:
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
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to be "myths". He also posted an article describing
97:
Prior to his arrest, Aan was a civil servant in the
769:"Indonesian atheist's arrest sparks tension online"
471:"Indonesian Atheist's Arrest Sparks Tension Online"
344:"'Minang atheist' sentenced to 2.5 years in prison"
547:"Indonesian jailed for Prophet Mohammed cartoons"
787:
662:
597:
371:
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106:good things if God is merciful." Aan declared
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219:Discrimination against atheists in Indonesia
628:
496:"Row over Indonesia atheist Facebook post"
312:
541:
539:
464:
462:
337:
335:
788:
577:"Atheist Alexander Aan gets of prison"
536:
435:
433:
658:
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342:Syofiardi Bachyul Jb (14 June 2012).
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289:. Amnesty International. 14 June 2012
155:, to which Indonesia is a signatory.
130:, who reported him to the police for
692:. Center for Inquiry. 25 April 2012.
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52:2012 arrest for comments on religion
44:Ex Civil Servant, Mathematic Teacher
524:. Associated Press. 21 January 2012
430:
92:
13:
831:Indonesian prisoners and detainees
749:. Center for Inquiry. 21 June 2012
653:
469:Jimmy Hitipeuw (2 February 2012).
301:
14:
847:
663:Michael Gryboski (20 June 2012).
598:Febriamy Hutapea (13 June 2012).
579:. thejakartapost. 31 January 2014
264:
440:Ian McKinnon (20 January 2012).
761:
739:
718:
696:
682:
622:
591:
569:
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16:Indonesian atheist and prisoner
488:
414:. 14 June 2012. Archived from
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376:William Pesek (20 June 2012).
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172:Atheist Alliance International
61:(born 1981) is an Indonesian
1:
826:People charged with blasphemy
771:. Al Arabiya. 2 February 2012
258:
166:Asian Human Rights Commission
836:Indonesian atheism activists
629:Meghan Neal (15 June 2012).
142:
7:
498:. BBC News. 20 January 2012
207:
128:Indonesian Council of Ulema
10:
852:
706:. Center for Inquiry. 2012
637:. New York. Archived from
204:and calling them cowards.
811:Indonesian former Muslims
313:Kate Hodal (3 May 2012).
224:Human rights in Indonesia
214:Anti-atheism in Indonesia
48:
40:
28:
21:
821:People from West Sumatra
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247:Indonesia supports the
87:prisoner of conscience
522:The Houston Chronicle
229:Religion in Indonesia
193:Islamic Society Forum
157:Amnesty International
83:Amnesty International
641:on January 30, 2013
249:freedom of religion
85:to designate him a
816:Minangkabau people
669:The Christian Post
197:far right Islamist
186:Center for Inquiry
162:Human Rights Watch
551:The Straits Times
195:, a coalition of
178:The Jakarta Globe
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93:Arrest and trial
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136:Muaro Sijunjung
101:subdistrict of
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79:Muaro Sijunjung
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49:Known for
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604:Jakarta Globe
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59:Alexander Aan
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41:Occupation(s)
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23:Alexander Aan
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773:. Retrieved
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751:. Retrieved
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729:. Retrieved
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708:. Retrieved
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672:. Retrieved
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643:. Retrieved
639:the original
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555:the original
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352:the original
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319:The Guardian
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103:West Sumatra
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33:Alexander An
796:1981 births
790:Categories
635:Daily News
583:31 January
259:References
143:Reactions
132:blasphemy
67:ex-Muslim
208:See also
202:beheaded
124:Mohammad
75:Facebook
775:25 June
753:28 June
731:28 June
710:28 June
674:25 June
645:25 June
614:25 June
561:25 June
528:25 June
502:25 June
480:27 June
451:25 June
422:25 June
392:25 June
358:25 June
324:25 June
293:25 June
63:atheist
475:Kompas
120:devils
118:, and
116:angels
108:heaven
71:Minang
235:Notes
777:2012
755:2012
733:2012
712:2012
676:2012
647:2012
616:2012
585:2014
563:2012
530:2012
504:2012
482:2012
453:2012
424:2012
394:2012
360:2012
326:2012
295:2012
191:The
184:The
112:hell
65:and
36:1981
29:Born
69:of
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