Indonesia Court Strikes Down Law Criminalising Criticism of Government
What Happened
Indonesia's Constitutional Court struck down provisions in the country's new penal code that made insulting the government a criminal offence, a crime punishable by up to three years in prison. The court agreed that the law could create a "chilling effect" on free speech and potentially criminalise legitimate criticism of the government.
Key Takeaways
Activists and legal experts welcomed the ruling as a victory for free expression, but warned that critics of the government could still face legal action under other laws, limiting the decision's practical impact on civil liberties.