Arrest of @TheKerupuk Admin Sparks Free Speech Outcry

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Amnesty International Indonesia is urging the police to release Risyad, also known as Icad, the administrator of the @TheKerupuk account on social media platform X, who was named a suspect by the Tangerang Metropolitan Police after posting a meme criticizing the government.Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid called Risyad's arrest unlawful, pointing out that police failed to produce an arrest warrant. "We strongly condemn the arbitrary arrest of the administrator of the X account @TheKerupuk simply for posting a meme allegedly criticizing the government," Usman said in a written statement on Thursday, July 16, 2026.Usman stated that Risyad was still a witness when the police apprehended him. He added that the police also obstructed Risyad from meeting with his attorney.Amnesty International Indonesia considers Risyad's arrest a clear "criminalization of freedom of expression in the digital space." "Peaceful expression, no matter how offensive, whether through art, including satire, political memes, or parody, is not a crime," Usman said.According to Amnesty, the arrest also violates the spirit of Constitutional Court Decision Number 115/PUU-XXII/2024. In that ruling, the court declared that social media disturbances or unrest do not constitute criminal offenses under Law Number 1 of 2024, the Second Amendment to the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law.The organization urged the National Police to immediately and unconditionally release the @TheKerupuk administrator. "The National Police must immediately order the Tangerang City Metro Police to unconditionally release the administrator and stop the investigation into the administrator of the @TheKerupuk account," said Usman.Amnesty also asserts that the use of ITE Law provisions to silence criticism must end immediately. "This is a violation of human rights," said Usman.How Did a Meme Lead to @TheKerupuk Admin's Arrest?Earlier, the Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet) reported Risyad's arrest via its @safenetvoice social media account. SAFEnet stated that eight to ten police officers escorted Risyad to the Tangerang City Metro Police Headquarters on Wednesday evening, July 15, 2026.Police briefly detained Risyad before releasing him on Thursday afternoon, July 16, 2026. "At around 4:30 p.m., Mr. Risyad left the Tangerang Police Headquarters. He is a suspect, but no arrest has been made," said Daniel Winarta, public lawyer for the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute, when contacted by Tempo.Daniel said investigators charged Risyad with alleged manipulation or unlawful alteration of electronic documents as stipulated in Article 32 paragraph (1) and Article 35 of the ITE Law. "The context relates to a post on the @TheKerupuk account containing a satirical comedy meme as an expression of criticism of government policy," Daniel said.He also noted that police did not present a warrant during the arrest. "This is an illegal arrest," Daniel said. SAFEnet also called the arrest "arbitrary." "This is an illegal arrest," Daniel said. SAFEnet also called the arrest "arbitrary."According to Daniel, Risyad had no opportunity to defend himself and was forced to comply with the police's demands. Investigators then forcibly took Risyad away and seized his social media accounts. Daniel said Risyad underwent questioning at the Tangerang City Metro Police from 1:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. Western Indonesian Time (WIB). Investigators initially questioned him as a witness before naming him a suspect.Tempo has attempted to contact Tangerang City Metro Police Chief Senior Commissioner Raden Muhammad Jauhari, Tangerang Criminal Investigation Unit Head Adjunct Senior Commissioner Parikhesit, and Greater Jakarta Police Public Relations Chief Senior Commissioner Budi Hermanto regarding the arrest.However, as of publication, the police have not responded. Calls to the Tangerang City Metro Police office rang unanswered, while attempts to reach the chief's mobile phone went unanswered.Vedro Imanuel Girsang contributed to this articleRead: Indonesians Increasingly Afraid to Talk Politics, SMRC SaysClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News