Arrest of @TheKerupuk Admin Sparks Free Speech Outcry
Amnesty International Indonesia is calling for the release of a social media administrator arrested for posting a meme critical of the government. The organization argues the arrest violates freedom of expression and recent legal precedents regarding digital speech.
Why it matters
The case highlights ongoing tensions regarding digital censorship and the criminalization of political satire in Indonesia.
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."
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in