Indonesia’s new, controversial criminal code threatens pathways to pluralism

As Indonesians protest a new restrictive criminal code, they are drawing attention to the ways in which it silences free speech. Indonesia’s new criminal code, approved on December 6, 2022, can potentially fall short to international standards of human rights.

The new legislation raises concerns among Indonesians about how it can impact the media’s ability to accurately report on issues of discrimination experienced by the government. Additionally, the new criminal code places prohibitions on criticizing the government or the national state ideology, Pancasila. Overall, it has the potential to undermine freedom of speech and the media’s ability to produce accurate outputs.

Global Pluralism Monitor report findings indicate that this new criminal code will heavily impact human rights activists, non-governmental organizations and religious minorities due to its provisions on blasphemy and state ideology.

The new criminal code will not enter into force until January 2026, after President Widodo’s term ends. This implementation timeframe creates the opportunity for legal challenges to emerge and for opposition in favor of the protection of human rights to strengthen.

To read more about the how activists, organizations and religious minorities currently implement their claims-making capabilities, read the Global Pluralism Monitor: Indonesia report.