CarnalNation

Clipped from: www.smh.com.au (share this clip)

Erwin Ananda, the former editor-in-chief of Playboy Indonesia was taken to prison to serve a two-year sentence for indecency this weekend.

The magazine which caused Ananda's arrest didn't actually have any nudity, at least not by American standards. Models in Playboy Indonesia were clad in lingerie with the occasional flash of partially-exposed breast.

Ananda's arrest is causing a huge outcry among civil rights advocates in Indonesia because it's seen as a symbol of increasing power of Islamic fundamentalists. Indonesia is a secular country, and has been known for tolerance and openess since the fall of the Suharto regime ten years ago. Playboy Indonesia was protested by members of the Islamic Defenders Front when it opened, and the group has been vocal in calling for his punishment.

Awit Mashuri, the Deputy Secretary General of [Islamic Defenders Front] said that Erwin Arnada is a moral terrorist and should have been put in detention a year ago after the Supreme Court ruled that he was guilty of indecency charges.

"He has been found guilty and should have been taken to prison to serve his two years punishment immediately following the court ruling," he said.

"This shows the extent of the judicial mafia in our court system — permitting Erwin to be free for a year after a guilty verdict."

From www.thejakartaglobe.com (share this quote)

Ananda and his lawyer, Todung Mulya Lubis, say that they will file an appeal against the verdict this week.

"For me the sentence for Erwin is something that is not considered a crime in other countries," Lubis told reporters.

"I'm disappointed that Erwin has been treated like a terrorist. As a matter of fact he is just a regular journalist. This is actually a case of press freedom."

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