June 21, 2012

The Center for Inquiry (CFI) on Thursday,

June 21, wrote the Indonesian Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Dino Patti Djalal, to demand

the immediate release of Alexander Aan, a 30-year-old civil servant who last

week was

sentenced to two years and six months in prison for

allegedly “disseminating information aimed at inciting religious hatred and animosity.” Aan

was also reportedly fined 100 million rupiah (equivalent to US $10,600).

As you might recall, Aan was attacked by

an angry mob and then arrested earlier this year for posting messages to

Facebook expressing his lack of belief in a God, as well as several cartoons

about the prophet Muhammad. Leading up to Aan’s trial, CFI

joined the Asian Human Rights Commission to urge Indonesian government

officials to drop the charges. After sentencing, CFI protested for Aan’s

freedom at the Indonesian embassy in Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, our pleas

have heretofore not secured Aan’s release.

CFI’s letter, written by President and CEO Ronald

A. Lindsay, calls upon Dr. Djalal to convey to the government of Indonesia our

position that the country should honor its obligations under the International Covenant on

Civil and Political Rights — which guarantees every person the rights to

freedom of belief and expression — and promptly release Aan from confinement.

You can download the letter by clicking

here.

CFI will continue to track Aan’s

situation and keep you informed.