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Thursday, March 25, 2010

Constitutional Court Upholds Anti-Pornography Law

Jakarta Globe, Camelia Pasandaran, March 25, 2010

A Manadonese girl dancing the Tumatenden traditional dance of North Sulawesi in front of Constitutional Court head Mahfud MD, right, and judge A Mukhtie Fadjar in a hearing on the porn law in August. (JG Photo)

The Constitutional Court upheld Indonesia's controversial Anti-Pornography Law on Thursday, rejecting plaintiff's arguments that it failed to clearly define porn.

“The constitutional rights of the applicants are indeed being guaranteed, because it gives a good picture of the definition of porn,” said Judge Achmad Sodiki.

“We should uphold morality and the national character, as well as respecting differences to protect people’s dignity, and protecting women and children.”

The court also said the law would not have a stifling effect on the arts, since it excludes artistic and cultural performances.

Judge Maria Farida Indrati dissented, however, saying the law failed to comprehend Indonesia's diversity.

“The law cannot be implemented based on varying social norms," she said.

The judicial review was filed by a number of organizations, including the National Committee for Indonesian Youth and the South Minahasa Student and Youth Alliance.

Related Articles:

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Indonesia protects culture from anti-porn law

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Tribal vote: Papua tribal man casts his ballot into a traditional bag made of woven tree bark called "Noken" in Jayawijaya, Papua province, Thursday, April 9, 2009. Indonesians flooded polling stations across the sprawling island nation Thursday, celebrating a decade of democracy in a parliamentary election that will gauge the reform-minded president's chances of re-election. AP/ANTARA, Prasetyo Utomo

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