Indonesian govt bans 19 Islamic news sites to curb radicalism

JAKARTA — Coordinating Minister of Defence, Politics and Legal Affairs Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno emphasised today (April 1) that the government’s move to ban 19 Islamic news sites was a curb on radicalism rather than an attack on free speech.

“This was not done on a whim,” Mr Purdijatno said today. “It was done as a precaution.”

The government has caused controversy by banning 19 media, including Hidayatullah.com and Muslimdaily.com. The ban was rolled out at the request of the National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT), which said the sites had published material it deemed to have crossed the line.

Some internet users accused the government of an assault on free speech, while others said a no-platform policy toward firebrand fundamentalism would drive it underground and could boost its appeal among some young people.

Mr Purdijatno’s position is that the government cannot normalise or lend credence to a racist, misogynistic and violent ideology by permitting news media to publish such pieces.

He did, however, say that the ban could be lifted if the media changed behaviour.

“We will lift the ban if the sites don’t spread propaganda,” he said.

Gerakan Pemuda (GP) Ansor, the youth wing of Nahdlatul Ulama, the country’s largest Muslim organisation, supported the government’s decision to block the websites.

“If the sites are teaching intolerance and declaring people with different beliefs as infidels then of course it is dangerous for our country,” said GP Ansor chairman, Mr Nusron Wahid.

“What was distributed through those sites deemed Indonesian values were not suitable with Islam,” Mr Wahid said. “This is dangerous.” THE JAKARTA GLOBE