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Editors challenge Indonesia's ban on 'radical' web content

Administrators of Islamic websites claim ban is unfair, defamatory
Editors challenge Indonesia's ban on 'radical' web content
Published: April 06, 2015 04:27 AM GMT
Updated: April 05, 2015 06:30 PM GMT

Administrators of Islamic websites blocked by the government last week over alleged extremist content are planning to file suit against the National Counterterrorism Agency and Communications and Information Technology Ministry.

“We can use defamation articles in the Criminal Code because our websites are ideological, so the impact [of the ban] is wide,” Mahladi, editor-in-chief of Hidayatullah.com, said during a public forum organized by the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) in Jakarta on Sunday.

Hidayatullah.com is among 19 websites blocked briefly by the Communications Ministry last week for allegedly spreading radical Islamist ideologies. Others include Arrahmah.com, Voa-islam.com, Dakwatuna.com, Aqlislamiccenter.com, Eramuslim.com, Kiblat.net and Daulahislam.com.

A majority were back up on Wednesday following a wave of protests accusing the policy of being “Islamophobic”.

The ministry claimed it had formulated its list of potentially harmful extremist websites based on recommendations from the National Counterterrorism Agency, or BNPT.

“Our website is still blocked. If only a few of our articles are considered inappropriate, [the ministry] can ask us to remove them; we’re willing to do that,” Mahladi said as quoted by CNN Indonesia.

BNPT chief Saud Usman conceded these websites did not consist entirely of radical Islamist sentiments, but they did contain posts that incited violence against supposed “enemies” of Islam.

Yoseph Adi Prasetyo, head of the Press Council’s legal commission, further argued that many of the sites’ supposed news articles lacked reliable sources and its writers could therefore not be considered members of the press.

The Press Council has refused to support them.

Several “chief editors” have contacted their lawyers to decide on what charges they could file against both the Communications Ministry and BNPT, deciding ultimately on defamation, Mahladi said.

He added the legal charges would be in the form of a civic lawsuit, and would be filed to both the regular district court and the state administrative court.

Speaking at the same forum on Sunday, Saud defended the government’s move to ban the 19 sites, saying: “As a Muslim myself, it is sad that I have to block some Islamic websites.

“But the list I gave the ministry include sites that contain potentially dangerous content, promoting racism or terrorism.”

Original Story‘Editors’ Hit Back Against Govt Ban on ‘Radical’ Websites

Source: The Jakarta Globe

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