BBC: Row over Indonesia atheist Facebook post
An Indonesian man who said that God did not exist in a posting on a Facebook page for atheists could face jail.
Civil servant Alexander Aan, 31, is now in protective police custody after he was attacked by an angry mob earlier this week.
He may also lose his job over his posting on the social networking site.
Atheism is a violation of Indonesian law under the founding principles of the country.
Indonesia – the world’s most populous Muslim nation – recognises the right to practice five other religions aside from Islam, says the BBC’s Karishma Vaswani in Jakarta.
Local media said a mob attacked Mr Aan when he arrived for work at a government office on Wednesday.
Police said that according to Indonesian criminal law, anyone who tried to stop others believing in a faith could face up to five years in prison.
The Facebook page where he made his comments remains up and supporters have condemned police action against Mr An, calling for him to be released.
It’s ridiculous that a person is forced to believe in something that has no tangible evidence or scientific proof. To impose an imaginary supernatural being upon an individual is criminal in its own right, and to not allow him to tell the truth is an infringement on his freedom of speech. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the face of religion – the irrationality, the insanity, and most importantly, the stupidity. They are consumed with the lies and fantasies they have constructed in their heads, and are perfectly content with shoving their myths down other people’s throat, but challenge them with the faculty of intelligence, they revolt like neanderthals with wooden clubs.
