Indonesian Atheist Attacked, Faces Jail Time After Posting 'God Doesn't Exist' On Facebook

After surviving an attack from an angry mob, an Indonesian atheist is facing jail time for posting the phrase "God doesn't exist" on his Facebook page.

The man, who is being identified only as Alexander, posted the message on the social networking site and was later reported to authorities by the Indonesian Council of Ulema, an Islamic religious authority, according to the Telegraph.

Alexander arrived for work at a government office Wednesday, where he was met and attacked by a mob of people upset by his beliefs.

He was arrested on Friday and charged with blasphemy against Islam, a crime punishable by up to five years in jail.

According to the Telegraph, officials were upset because they "believed Mr. Alexander had defiled Islam by using passages from the Koran to denounce God."

An Indonesian law prohibits people from speaking out against any of the country's six recognized religions.

In addition to legal trouble, Alexander's post may also cost him his job, the BBC reports.

Alexander grew up Muslim, but questioned the existence of God, angels and heaven, the Jakarta Post reports. He learned about atheism while attending college in Bandung, West Java.

According to a local police chief, Alexander said he's not going down without a fight.

"He said he realized what he had said and was prepared to lose his job to defend his beliefs," Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Chairul Azis told the Jakarta Post.

In addition to questioning God on his own page, Alexander managed a Facebook group about atheism that had more than 1,200 followers, the AFP reports.

Comments

[ShamanOfHedon]

02:23 PM on 08/21/2012

Anything, be it religion or politics, wherein you are threatened if you ever DARE question it, automatically makes itself something that MUST be questioned.

[PXhoplite]

12:47 PM on 02/29/2012

Perhaps the author should've better considered the headline: Indonesian Atheist Attacked By Muslims..."

[ShamanOfHedon]

02:24 PM on 08/21/2012

Christiands would do the same thing if they legally could here, and HAVE done so repeatedly throughout history. Keep your Islamophobia out of it.

[jcshiloh]

05:33 AM on 02/25/2012

To see rare effects, and no cause; a motion, without a mover; a circle, without a centre; a time, without an eternity; a second, without a first: these are things so against philosophy and natural reason, that he must be a beast in understanding who can believe in them. The thing formed, says that nothing formed it; and that which is made, is, while that which made it is not! This folly is infinite.

[MegalosaurusWins]

08:54 AM on 02/12/2012

Being an Indonesian atheist, I think I can provide some perspective. There's somewhat unbalanced reporting in the media that gives impression you will be attacked or punished for being an atheist in Indonesia. The fact is that it's not true. There are many atheists I know here but they don't go around using facebook to create a facebook page promoting atheism and at the same time mocking Islam by using some passages from the Quran and sunnah taken from some famous anti-Islam websites (which actually doesn't portray Islam in a fair way). It's just a bad form considering Indonesia has the most muslim population on earth, albeit most of them pratice a moderate version of Islam, there's still a tiny minority who have extreme views and have the power to move some uneducated/illiterate people to take justice onto their own hands. In a relatively traditional society like Indonesia (low education, poverty, cling on to religion for most real life problems etc), it's just irresponsible on this guy's part for bashing religion/Islam because he's an atheist, people need to learn to exercise their judgement and wisdom, I'm an atheist because I'm devoid of faith, not because I hate religion (there are bad and good in it) and people shouldn't be using religion (Islam, xtian, hindu, atheism) to hate on other faiths because what to you is BS, to others could be something that's really priceless and useful, we have to respect each other.

[MegalosaurusWins]

08:56 AM on 02/12/2012

Also given the historical context, in Indonesia atheism was closely associated with communism where in the past, due to American influence of anti-communism in South-East Asia (e.g. by installing military dictatorship led by Suharto & dethroning pro-communist Sukarno during the Vietnam war), there was a wide held belief that communists = atheists who will burn Quran/mosques and kill muslims, this led to the massacre of about 400000 communists in Indonesia (which ironically most of them were muslims). So the anti-atheism sentiment is still deep rooted in Indonesian society, that's another angle why Indonesian atheists should not follow the behavior of their Western atheists counterparts (like bad mouthing religion on a daily basis, saying religion as the root of all problems without considering its merit, etc), at least until Indonesia becomes a totally liberal country. Until then, free speech should only come with responsibility and being respectful is a virtue.

[RK1776]

11:24 AM on 02/04/2012

Historically, we all know that many "ideologies" were forced into existence (or should I say onto existence). When I was much younger I heard a statement from a music artist state " Freedom of Speech . . But watch what you say" but only in recent times has it taking on full meaning. We indeed do have a free will to decide what we choose to believe in or not believe in. But understand that yes "radical beliefs" as those which were demonstrated in 9/11 come into play, our freedom to speak may indeed affect our very lives. To live is Christ, but to die is gain . . . As Christians we are told to love others as Christ loves the Church . . . But understand that Christ spoke truth in Love, He rebuked in love, etc . . . nuff said . . .

[inheritedwealthisacrime]

07:16 AM on 01/25/2012

Well, so much for intellectual advancement in Indonesia; too much like the buybull belt and the South (and Utah) of the US of A..

[jokamachi]

11:15 PM on 01/24/2012

Atheists may be immoral, misguided, self-centered, materialistic, and generally unhappy people, but they don't deserve this kind of persecution.

Torquemada would do a better job.

[Tanrioldu]

11:21 PM on 01/24/2012

Christians may generally be immoral, hypocritical, gullible, foolish, misguided, self-cente­red, materialis­tic, and generally unhappy people, but they don't deserve this kind of persecution either.

[Mabo]

01:44 PM on 02/03/2012

Generally? Wow...your bias runs deep. What a hateful comment...and untrue. Sorry you feel that way...really...

[inheritedwealthisacrime]

07:18 AM on 01/25/2012

Actually, atheists are, according to several prominent studies, more generous, more ethical, less materialistic and much more a peace and happy than are devoutly religious people in the US of A.

[pondering11]

07:39 PM on 02/06/2012

inheritedwealthisacrime wrote:

"Actually, atheists are, according to several prominent studies, more generous, more ethical, less materialis­tic and much more a peace and happy than are devoutly religious people in the US of A."

That's a rather bold and ambitious statement. How about citing your sources.

[zappbrannigan420]

05:54 PM on 02/18/2012

And yet the conservative religious folks give more every year to charities. Interesting.

[Jim NLN]

01:22 PM on 01/24/2012

This is the America Rick Santorum and Michele Bachmann want for all of us! Pastafarians Unite!

[MikeHermit]

12:52 AM on 01/29/2012

Ramen

[Mabo]

01:23 PM on 02/03/2012

That statement is only true if you are a paranoid person. No one says that you have to believe in God, just like no one should say that you cannot believe in God. I, personally, as a Christian, am not offended if you say that you don't believe in God. No Christian politician that I know of has said anything related to what you wrote. Many people have been paranoid, though, and posted similar comments. Relax...no one is going to take away your freedom of religion (or from it in your case).

[ComradeWinston]

11:53 PM on 01/23/2012

The state provides practical control over peoples lives and the church provides mind control.

Free your damn minds.

[zappbrannigan420]

05:55 PM on 02/18/2012

To join what, a communistic paradise like North Korea?

[ComradeWinston]

02:11 AM on 02/19/2012

In North Korea the totalitarian State covers the job of the clergy.

I suppose you prefer christian fascism and the illusion of free choice in the US.

[jcshiloh]

05:42 AM on 02/25/2012

The antitheist is quick to excoriate all religious belief by generically laying the blame at the door of all who claim to be religious, without distinction. By the same measure, why is there not an equal enthusiasm to distribute blame for violence engendered by some of the irreligious?

[ComradeWinston]

10:11 AM on 02/25/2012

Anders Breivik, 9/11, Zionists, there is your distinction. Different people of different major theologies killing people over imaginary friends.

Oh, so did the all mighty and powerful nothingness command Stalin to kill about six to eight million people in purges, gulags, political arrests, and so on? Now who was that other person who had about 11,000,000 people killed... Oh yes the Catholic dictator of Germany, Hitler who had millions of Jews executed and others thrown into ovens for no practical reason.

You seem to miss the point, those with no religion only have their secular ambitions to drive them, and nationalism can be just as corrupting, it may as well be considered a secular religion. But the point being, what causes people to go out of their way to kill people on purpose? Imaginary theological dictators.

[pogopogo1]

03:46 PM on 04/01/2012

Because there are more of you (believers) in power than there are of us (non-believers). Unfortunately, you guys rule the world; consequently, the state of the world is your responsibility.

[myopinion2]

03:45 PM on 01/23/2012

Which Israel hater is going to tell me again that Indonesia is not a Muslim country.

[Chris Hollier]

12:16 AM on 01/24/2012

Which Christian dominionist is going to tell me that Indonesia isn't a theocracy?

[Myoho Mod]

12:57 PM on 01/24/2012

I am Jewish and Indonesia is NOT a Muslim country. Muslim majority doesn't make it a Muslim country. So how dare you say "Israel hater" bigot

[myopinion2]

01:32 PM on 01/24/2012

If having an overwhelming Muslim population that punishes speech if the Muslims don't like it isn't a Muslim country, what is.

Spemd time on the sites with Israel articles, and there's plenty of Israel haters. You think I'm a bigot, whatever.

[Cindy Tregan]

02:47 PM on 01/23/2012

And there we go again - the "Religion of Peace" using violence against those who don't agree with them.

[Myoho Mod]

12:58 PM on 01/24/2012

Bigot

[dschiff]

09:13 PM on 01/24/2012

A subtle, but pointed criticism...

[Tanrioldu]

11:22 PM on 01/24/2012

Christians do the same.

[inheritedwealthisacrime]

07:20 AM on 01/25/2012

So very true. !!! F & F.

[Cindy Tregan]

10:15 AM on 01/25/2012

So that makes it OK for moslems to do so?

[bakdoc1980]

02:19 PM on 01/23/2012

The sad fact is that many religious groups in this country would approve of such a law here.

[Richard McRae]

12:53 PM on 01/24/2012

Exactly what I was thinking.

[zappbrannigan420]

06:01 PM on 02/18/2012

Doubtful. We really don't want to have to pay to feed, clothe and house you in a prison where you'll be taking space that a drug user could occupy,

[ComradeWinston]

10:40 PM on 02/26/2012

Oh yes, those horrible people who do drugs. They're the evil parasites of society that are the only ones holding us back from having a perfect world.

(to those of you of lower intelligence, this is sarcasm)

[Cole 33]

02:17 PM on 01/23/2012

Politics and Religion, they really don't seem to do much but generate divisiveness, and when they are put together too closely it becomes a lit molotov cocktail just waiting to be thrown.

[Tylerious]

01:48 PM on 01/23/2012

The difference between atheists of today and the religious martyrs of early Christianity is that Atheists don't believe they'll be getting any special treatment in heaven if they die for their beliefs. Thus, it's better to feign conversion when faced with a mob of hateful theists bent on your dismemberment.

[iknowscottyknows]

12:24 PM on 02/20/2012

Yes, indeed, God will be fooled by the words you speak.

[Tuskin Roberts]

01:08 PM on 01/23/2012

Let's see one of those religious apologists on HuffPost Religion write an article about how we need to update religion for our progressive, high minded, modern culture.
Worthless superstition.

[zappbrannigan420]

06:13 PM on 02/18/2012

The high minded culture that dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, then launched us into a seemingly endless war over the threat of "communism". There is nothing high minded or modern about our society, we are the same barbarians our ancestors were - the only difference is that our toys are a little nicer. Its not so high minded a society if we sit here growing fat and indolent while millions die of hunger in Africa. Its not so high minded a society if, instead of caring about those people who are suffering, we worry more about some overstuffed celebrity tarts getting more hollow accolades for their mantles.

You decry religion as being superstition, yet being an increasingly secular culture hasn't dimmed the violence in our nation, indeed, in some places the violence continues to skyrocket. This increasing secular society, so high minded indeed, now allows us to watch pregnant teenagers ruin their lives for our amusement on national television. Nor has the secularization of society prevented the spread of government corruption through lobbyists, through corporate greed, and petty party politics.

You could argue that we don't need religion to solve our problems, its a nice argument, take a look at some rundown parts of Detroit and tell me how well thats working.

[iknowscottyknows]

12:24 PM on 02/20/2012

You are free to believe nothing.