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Govt urged to take firm action against blasphemous website

NU Online  ·  Sabtu, 22 November 2008 | 03:31 WIB

Jakarta, NU Online
The Indonesian government was urged to take a stern measure against whoever had disseminated blasphemous pictures or cartoons of Prophet Muhammad through a website, a legislator has said.

Mutammimul Ula, a member of the Justice and Prosperous Party (PKS) on behalf of the party hoped here on Thursday relating to the `website lapotuak.wordpress.com` which blasphemed Prophet Muhammad through pornographic pictures or cartoons in the website recently.<>

He said that there are two pornographic cartoons regarding Prophet Muhammad in the website namely depicting Muhammad and Zainab (woman).

"This has really hurt the feelings of Muslims. Police should take stern action against the cartoon drawer and the website owner. Don`t wait until Muslims take the law into their own hands," he warned, adding that this case threatens religious harmony in the country.

Earlier, Communications and Information Minister Muhammad Nuh said the government would take firm action against whoever had disseminated provocative and pornographic materials through websites which had caused anger and unrest in the public.

"The regulation we have now concerned freedom of expression, and electronic transactions and criminal code, ban on dissemination of business or SARA (tribe, religion, race and inter group)-related conflicts.

"If something is banned, it means that there will be a legal consequence," the minister was quoted by Antara as saying. (dar)