An Indonesian civil servant who posted “God does not exist” on his Facebook page has been taken into police custody for his own protection after he was badly beaten.

The man, identified as Alexander, 31, now faces the prospect of losing his job, or even being jailed, if he fails to repent and accept one of six official state religions.

Blasphemy carries a maximum sentence of five years in jail.

Local media reported that when Alexander arrived at work at the Dharmasraya Development Planning Board (Bappeda) on Wednesday, a group of men, also understood to comprise government officials, attacked and beat him before police arrived and took him into protective custody.

Dharmasraya Police Chief Sr. Comr. Chairul Aziz told the Jakarta Globe that Alexander moderated a Facebook account titled “Ateis Minang” (Minang Atheists) and had written an update that “God does not exist.”

Chairul said he could not confirm the reports that Alexander was attacked but say that he had taken into protective custody to “anticipate anarchy.”

“Besides, he is also afraid of being intimidated or hurt.”

Alexander was quoted by Padangekspres.co.id as saying that he did not believe in God because of the amount of crime and disasters.

“If God indeed exists, why do bad things happen,” he was quoted as saying. “There should only be good things if God is merciful.”

Alexander said he was born a Muslim but ceased religious activities in 2008.

“I have no idea what the problem is. When I arrived at the office, a mob came and beat me, and took me to the police.”

Aziz said police would wait for a recommendation from the West Sumatra Coordinating Agency to Supervise Religion and Beliefs (Bakorpakem) as well as the Ministry of Religious Affairs before deciding on further action against Alexander.

“If they consider what he did was blasphemy, we will charge him.”

Gusrizal Gazahar, head of the West Sumatera chapter of the Council of Ulema (MUI), told local media that if he refused to repent, Alexander should lose his job.

“I want him to be fired,” he said.

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/...sia-man/492370

Wow, if someone doesn't believe in something you beat them until they do? What's this, the 17,000's

Religion makes people crazy, that is why I don't believe in some almighty god.

no Sp32 ,anyone can believe or god or not ,BUT if someone doesn't believe in god and declares it to other people he might get kicked in the ass

why to discuss about this?

If God does not exist then what is the benefit of this conversation.
Close this thread.

yes it does

Yeah, after this, try to make a smart comment...huh...

read the article mate, it's not a matter of whether god exist or doesn't
it's the unjust treatment he got for stating that.

also indonesian citizens are required to state their religion on the national ID card for absurd reasons.


so being an atheist is certainly harder than being gay in indonesia

ROFL, that's insane .

so no ateists there