Indonesian Court Jails Woman Belonging To Ethnic Minority For Complaining Against Mosque Loudspeakers 

An ethnic-Chinese woman has been sentenced to 18 months in prison by an Indonesian court for committing blasphemy against Islam after she complained against the noise generated by Mosque loudspeakers, Associated Press has reported.

Following the verdict announced by presiding Judge Wahyu Prasetyo Wibowo, the ‘accused’ woman named Meiliana burst into tears. The maximum sentence for blasphemy in the country is two years.

The lawyers of 44-year-old Meiliana have said that they would appeal against this sentence. On the other hand, a conservative group named Islamic Community Forum has claimed that the punishment given is too light.

As per the report, Meiliana’s complaint had resulted in a riot in July 2016 wherein mobs had ransacked at least 14 Buddhist temples in Tanjung Balai - a port town in Sumatra.

Sentencing under the blasphemy laws of the country seems to be becoming a common occurrence. In 2017 the erstwhile governor of Jakarta who was an ethnic-Chinese as well as a Christian was jailed for two years after being convicted for blasphemy.

The judges imposed this sentence despite the prosecution downgrading the charges against him.