JAKARTA – Leading human rights and legal organizations as well as a number of public figures, including former President Abdurrahman Wahid, on November 17 demanded the Constitutional Court overturn a controversial law adopted in 1965 that they argue is discriminatory and limits religious freedom, the Jakarta Globe reported on November 18. The parties argue that the Law on the Prevention of Blasphemy and Abuse of Religion, which carries jail terms of up to five years, is unconstitutional. 

The law bans people from publicly espousing or gathering public support in favor of certain religious interpretations, and forces citizens to follow one of six state-sanctioned religions.