Activist still prosecuted after acquittals of others
Activist Khariq Anhar continues to face criminal prosecution under Indonesia's Electronic Information and Transactions (EIT) Law for a satirical social media post related to the nationwide protests that began in August 2025. He and six other activists were prosecuted in connection with the protests and all but Khariq Anhar have been released. However, the acquittals of four of these activists remain under appeal by prosecutors. Amnesty International calls on the authorities to end the continued criminalization of Khariq Anhar and others for peaceful protest and freedom of expression in Indonesia.
From 25 August to 1 September 2025, Indonesia witnessed one of its largest waves of protests since the country's democratic transition in 1998. Demonstrations took place across Jakarta and at least 15 other provinces in response to government policies widely perceived as undermining civic space and worsening socio-economic conditions. Rather than facilitating peaceful assemblies, the authorities responded with excessive force, mass arrests, and criminal prosecutions. Amnesty International documented hundreds of protesters, students, and activists investigated or prosecuted solely for participating in or expressing support for the demonstrations.
Among those targeted were seven activists — Delpedro Marhaen Rismansyah, Muzaffar Salim, Khariq Anhar, Syahdan Husein, Wawan Hermawan, Saiful Amin, and Shelfin Bima Prakosa. Arrested separately between August and September 2025, they were prosecuted under the Criminal Code and the Electronic Information and Transactions (EIT) Law for speeches, social media posts, or other peaceful activities connected to the protests.
On 6 March, the Central Jakarta District Court acquitted Delpedro, Muzaffar, Khariq, and Syahdan of all charges, ruling that prosecutors had failed to prove allegations of incitement, dissemination of false information, hate speech, or child exploitation. The court restored their rights and emphasized that criminal law must not be used to punish peaceful political expression. The four activists were released after spending nearly seven months in detention. However, prosecutors subsequently filed a cassation appeal before the Supreme Court, where the case remains pending.
On 7 April, the Central Jakarta District Court convicted Wawan Hermawan and sentenced him to seven months' imprisonment for reposting the same edited image created by Khariq. Amnesty International Indonesia criticized the ruling as inconsistent with the earlier acquittals in the related Jakarta case. Wawan Hermawan has since completed his sentence and been released.
In a separate case in Kediri, East Java, the Kediri District Court delivered contradictory judgments on 28 April. Saiful Amin was acquitted after the court recognized that his actions formed part of the exercise of freedom of expression. In contrast, Shelfin Bima Prakosa was convicted of incitement and sentenced to four months' imprisonment for his involvement in the same protest. Amnesty International Indonesia criticized the inconsistent verdicts as evidence of unequal treatment of peaceful protesters. Both have now been released, although prosecutors have appealed Saiful's acquittal.
These cases demonstrate the continued use of vague provisions of the Criminal Code and the EIT Law to criminalize peaceful expression and assembly in Indonesia. Although six of the seven activists are no longer in detention, Khariq remains on trial while prosecutors continue to challenge the acquittals of Delpedro, Muzaffar, Syahdan, and Saiful, prolonging legal uncertainty and creating a chilling effect on the exercise of fundamental freedoms.
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