The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), in an amicus curiae brief submitted today, has requested the East Jakarta District Court to give effect to Indonesia’s international legal obligations concerning freedom of expression and information in their adjudication of a case concerning criminal charges against two human rights defenders, Haris Azhar and Fatia Maulidiyanti.

The Defendants, Haris Azhar and Fatia Maulidiyanti, have been charged with criminal defamation under article 27(3) of the Law No. 11 of 2008 on Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE Law) and article 310(1) of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP), and spreading false statements which “may cause chaos within society” under article 14(2) of Law No. 1 of 1946 on Criminal Law Regulations (Law 1/1946). These provisions impose criminal sanctions of fines and/or imprisonment.

Read full article: ICJ asks court to ensure that defamation and “false information” laws not be used to silence and criminalize human rights defenders