Free Expression and Defamation of Religion in 

Southeast Asia

R b AlRoby AlampayInterAkyson com

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The Face of Religion inThe Face of Religion in Indonesian Media

Rachmah IdaRachmah IdaAirlangga University

Reporting Religion IncidentsReporting Religion Incidents

• Violence & terrorism in the name of religion• Criticism toward press reporting: biased, lackCriticism toward press reporting: biased, lack of objectivity, unbalancedL b lli d i• Labelling and stereotyping

• The press take their sidep• Repeating themes/issues and discourse • It is not about the inter/intra‐faith conflict, but it is about the politics

Labelling: “Massa Bersurban” (cloak mass)

The Diversity is VanishedThe Diversity is Vanished

Violence in the name of religionViolence in the name of religion

Failed StateFailed State

Government is slowGovernment is slow

Government is blamedGovernment is blamed

SARA & MinoritySARA & Minority

Religion clash= the “preman”Religion clash= the  preman

Destruction Torture BurningDestruction, Torture, Burning

Warning!Warning! … 

“Rusuh” (chaos)Rusuh  (chaos)

“Bubarkan” (disband)Bubarkan  (disband)

Banned AhmadiyahBanned Ahmadiyah

Sabili = the conservatives’ speakSabili = the conservatives  speak

SabiliSabili

“Killed Killed” (MADINAH)Killed...Killed  (MADINAH)

The export of jihad: International connections

“The Prophet Made in Indonesia”The Prophet Made in Indonesia

Rasul Keren= Cool Prophet