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Asia-pacific
Facebook comment lands atheist in jail
Activists in Indonesia demand release of man who wrote on site that he did not believe in God.
Last Modified: 07 Feb 2012 21:28

Human rights activists and religious scholars in Indonesia are demanding the release of a man who wrote on Facebook that he did not believe in God.

Alexander An, a 31-year-old civil servant, is facing five years in prison after being charged with defamation of religion.

He says he started to question the existence of God when he was a child.

Although the country is officially secular, every Indonesian has to have a religion and register himself according to one of the official five religions.

Step Vaessen reports from Dharmasraya in West Sumatra.

Source:
Al Jazeera
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