Indonesian Man Faces Five Years For Atheist Facebook Post

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Indonesian Man Faces Five Years For Atheist Facebook Post

Posted by samzenpus on Sunday January 22, 2012 @06:35AM from the unlike-this dept.

An anonymous reader writes "31-year-old Alexander Aan faces a maximum prison sentence of five years for posting 'God does not exist' on Facebook. The civil servant was attacked and beaten by an angry mob of dozens who entered his government office at the Dharmasraya Development Planning Board on Wednesday. The Indonesian man was taken into protective police custody Friday since he was afraid of further physical assault."

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He deserves it by Anonymous Coward · 2012-01-22 06:36 · Score: 5, Funny

This is what you get for using Facebook. I hope it's not too late for all the other Facebook users to learn.
1. Re:He deserves it by Anonymous Coward · 2012-01-22 06:40 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  This is what you get with religious rule.
2. Re:He deserves it by FreeCoder · 2012-01-22 06:46 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  This is true for most of USA too. While you probably won't get jailed for saying such, there are just as ridiculous laws and customs based on Christianity, especially compared to other more saner countries. Especially about gay marriage and abortion.
3. Re:He deserves it by Joce640k · 2012-01-22 07:04 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  While you probably won't get jailed for saying such...
  ...you can still get the Christian mob to lynch you, eg. Jessica Ahlquist
  
  --
  No sig today...
4. Re:He deserves it by SuricouRaven · 2012-01-22 07:23 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  Actually, not quite true. Many state constitutions do specifically require that only Christians can hold public office (And some define Christian in such a way as to exclude denominations unpopular at the time of writing), but there was a supreme court case years ago which ruled that these aspects of the constitutions are incompatible with the first amendment to the US constitution - and the US constitution overrules state constitutions.
5. Re:He deserves it by MrHanky · 2012-01-22 07:37 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Sure, with the minor difference that your imaginary atheist lynch mob does not in fact exist.
6. Re:He deserves it by Cruciform · 2012-01-22 08:19 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  When Ahlquist won Facebook and Twitter filled up with direct threats against her life and physical well being.
  When the Cranston Florists started a Facebook page to take a stand against the "atheist hate" directed at them for refusing to make deliveries to her, the content of the threads I looked at contained no threats of any kind. Lots of criticism, but not even that many insults.
  It's night and day in behavior.
  Sure, there are assholes on both sides. But the Christians appear to have the lion's share this time.
7. Re:He deserves it by ceoyoyo · 2012-01-22 08:50 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  Most of the laws of the old testament, including the ones you give as examples, pre-exist their supposed divine revelation in the old testament.
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_of_Ur-Nammu
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_of_Hammurabi
8. Re:He deserves it by todrules · 2012-01-22 09:05 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  And the Old Testament also tells you that slavery is OK and even goes so far to tell you how to beat your slave. Damn those heathens for outlawing slavery!!! The Bible says it's OK!
9. Re:He deserves it by BlueParrot · 2012-01-22 09:35 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  Hitler was not atheist in the slightest, he made many references to Jesus in his speeches. He also got to power in part thanks to support from right wing social conservatives and Christian fundies. In his speech to justify giving him emergency powers he calledon the neeed to protect germany from socialism and atheism.
  You are right about Stalin being an atheist, but it wasn't atheism that motivated his actions. He just generally "eliminated" anybody who had power he could not control. The church was just one of many examples.
10. Re:He deserves it by BlueParrot · 2012-01-22 09:41 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  I don't actually know of any atheist country except maybe some communist dictatorships.
  Most countries with a high number of atheists ( such as Sweden ) are best described as secular. The difference between a secular government and an atheist one, is that the secular one doesn't comment on whether there is a god or not. Secular governments are built on the principle that it is not for the state to promote religious beliefs ( or lack thereof ).
11. Re:He deserves it by shutdown+-p+now · 2012-01-22 09:45 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Yes, and some values are better than others. Notably, those values which result in the murder of people who are guilty only of speaking their mind, are the kind of values that should be treated with deserved contempt.
12. Re:He deserves it by slasho81 · 2012-01-22 09:54 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  This is what you get for using Facebook.
  Five years is a harsh punishment. I hope twitter users get a shorter sentence.
13. Re:He deserves it by Arterion · 2012-01-22 12:32 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Atheism is not a religion, not even when you use "quotes". Atheism is relying empirical evidence rather than superstition. Atheism asks "why?" and doesn't accept "because god says" as an answer. It's hard to accept "we don't fully know yet", but it's a much better answer than "god". Once you write down "god" as an answer for something, you stop looking at the problem, or worse, it becomes taboo to look at the problem. That's a very bad place to be, because, god or not, I don't see anyone solving any human problems except for other humans.
  
  --
  "That which does not kill us makes us stranger." -Trevor Goodchild
This is terrible by Anonymous Coward · 2012-01-22 06:38 · Score: 5, Insightful

It's one thing persecuting people for their religion but persecuting atheists is going too far.
1. Re:This is terrible by Egg+Sniper · 2012-01-22 07:03 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  It's one thing persecuting people for their religion but persecuting atheists is going too far.
  A small minority of 'different' people in your community often makes people uncomfortable when part of the culture is professing just how right and good it is to agree and identify with the majority. When that minority attempts to become vocal they are by definition wrong and therefore it is justifiable to punish them. If all you have to prove that you're living your life correctly is the assertion by yourself and those around you that it is so any argument against what you believe is dangerous. Certainly authority figures (from politicians to parents) won't allow dissenting opinions to spread, like some horrible disease.
  People aren't persecuted for their religion. They are persecuted because their religion (or ethnicity or social status or etc.) is different from the majority of those around them. Group-think and ignorance will attack what it doesn't understand or can't control in whatever form it takes.
  One could argue that, historically, atheism is the most persecuted belief system still in practice. It would explain the relatively small proportion of the population that atheism makes up, as well as why that small proportion is spread throughout the world with no great central region to call home.
2. Re:This is terrible by walshy007 · 2012-01-22 07:41 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  It would explain the relatively small proportion of the population that atheism makes up, as well as why that small proportion is spread throughout the world with no great central region to call home.
  I'd say australia is doing fairly well with the atheist business, the census five years ago indicated that approx 30% of australians don't believe in god. And of those that are religious australia has among the lowest church attendance rates in the world, even the believers rate it fairly low on their priorities placing family, work, leisure time and even politics ahead of it.
His defense strategy should be ... by tomhudson · 2012-01-22 06:41 · Score: 5, Funny

"The devil made me do it!"
Re:The future is already here by Anonymous Coward · 2012-01-22 06:46 · Score: 5, Insightful

"If God existed, he would teach you compassion." Seriously, play to win.
Re:Yet another 3rd world reaction by RyanFenton · 2012-01-22 06:51 · Score: 5, Insightful

Yet another 3rd world reaction to the eternal pornographic issue - my deity is larger than yours.
Reminds me of one of my favorite Carl Sagan quotes:

How is it that hardly any major religion has looked at science and concluded, 'This is better than we thought! The Universe is much bigger than our prophets said, grander, more subtle, more elegant'? Instead they say, 'No, no, no! My god is a little god, and I want him to stay that way.' A religion, old or new, that stressed the magnificence of the Universe as revealed by modern science might be able to draw forth reserves of reverence and awe hardly tapped by the conventional faiths.

Even the religions with science in the name ("Christian Science" and "Scientology") are profoundly against freedom of inquiry, except where it is used to glorify their mythology. This story kind of backs up the whole "our god is a little god, we must coddle it" approach.
Ryan Fenton
Re:The real problem here by MightyMartian · 2012-01-22 07:01 · Score: 5, Insightful

The problem is that Islamic civilization was not always as you describe, nor is it even now. At one time, many Islamic societies were far more advanced and open than their Western European counterparts. What you're saying makes about as much sense as condemning Christianity based on what you find wrong in Catholicism.

--
The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
Just pick a religion from their list . . . by PolygamousRanchKid+ · 2012-01-22 07:08 · Score: 5, Interesting

FTFA:

Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation, recognises the right to practice six religions in total: Islam, Protestant, Catholic, Hindu, Buddhism and Confucianism. Atheism is, however, illegal.
I'd go with Confucianism. If nobody can understand what he said, nobody can understand if you are practicing it or not.
If you live amongst a horde of unpredictable religious fanatics, it's best to keep your mouth shut.
My God told me so.

--
Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
If God existed, he could fight his own battles. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-01-22 07:22 · Score: 5, Insightful

I will never comprehend the "if you don't believe, I'll beat the shit out of you" mentality.
Re:abortion is legitimate question by walshy007 · 2012-01-22 07:22 · Score: 5, Interesting

I don't know anyone who is "pro abortion", but plenty who are "pro choice".
Pro life and pro choice are just market speak, the real issue is for or against the ability of women to legally have abortions. People who use pro life and pro choice are attempting to change the framing in order to get people on their side.
imho, people should be blunt about a topic, speaking as eloquently as possible about their real point without trying to dodge things. This is not a dig at you, but at oh so many idealists that refuse to do so.
not sure if god exists or not by FudRucker · 2012-01-22 07:33 · Score: 5, Funny

but he sure has a shitty fan club

--
Politics is Treachery, Religion is Brainwashing
Atheism isn't a belief system by Anonymous Coward · 2012-01-22 07:34 · Score: 5, Informative

Atheism isn't a belief system, but the rejection or lack of one.
"Atheism is a belief system" is a definition born of an American cultural background. Since theism is the majority position (86%), the distinction between strong disbelief in make-believe beings Vs. mere indifference in same, is given exaggerated importance.
1. Re:Atheism isn't a belief system by betterunixthanunix · 2012-01-22 08:12 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  How does a belief that there is no God not count as a belief system?
  Well, first of all, atheism is not "a belief that there is no God," it is a lack of belief in any gods at all (for some reason, Christians insist that there is only one deity anyone could believe in). Someone who had never heard of any deities in their entire life would be an atheist: people must be taught to follow religions or believe in gods.
  
  That being said, atheism is not a system at all. I am an atheist, but I still practice my religion -- I simply do not believe that deities exist, because there is no evidence to support that notion. Yet I still keep traditions, moral beliefs, and philosophies that emerged from my religion -- that is the "system." I am not alone in this -- it is more common in my religion than people would like to admit, and I suspect that it happens in other religions as well.
  
  --
  Palm trees and 8
2. Re:Atheism isn't a belief system by Kittenman · 2012-01-22 09:19 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  How does a belief that there is no God not count as a belief system?
  Well, first of all, atheism is not "a belief that there is no God," it is a lack of belief in any gods at all (for some reason, Christians insist that there is only one deity anyone could believe in).
  Quote: Atheism is a religion the same way not collecting stamps is a hobby. Unquote.
  
  --
  "The greatest lesson in life is to know that even fools are right sometimes" - Winston Churchill
The difference between us and them by betterunixthanunix · 2012-01-22 07:38 · Score: 5, Insightful

The difference between that young lady's story and what happened in Indonesia is this: people were just talking, online, about how much they hate her. When she is being beaten up, or people are shooting at her, or Molotov cocktails are being thrown, then maybe the comparison will make sense.

In America, you can voice your dissent, you can call people garbage, and you can do so for any reason -- even if you are calling them garbage for putting an end to a blatant constitutional infraction. The constitution protects the rights of atheists and religious people of all varieties equally, and that includes the right to be rude, insulting, and to hate the very constitution that provides you with those protections.

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Palm trees and 8
Re:abortion is legitimate question by makomk · 2012-01-22 10:57 · Score: 5, Informative

I think you're getting confused. Pretty much all the pro-choice groups and individuals are pro-contraception - in fact the biggest boogeyman of the anti-abortion movement in the US, Planned Parenthood, actually puts most of its resources towards providing contraception. It's the anti-abortion groups that tend to be against contraception, and in favour of telling kids in school that it doesn't exist and making it harder to obtain in general.
Re:abortion is legitimate question by narcc · 2012-01-22 11:09 · Score: 5, Interesting

Are they pro-life with respect to the organisms that cause the plague?
You don't have to go that far. Just ask them if they support the death penalty.
You'll be amazed at how many "pro lifers" think that killing people a few years after they're born is fantastic.

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Required reading for internet skeptics