The chief editor of Indonesia's Jakarta Post has been named a suspect in a blasphemy case relating to a controversial cartoon that showed a flag similar to the one of the Islamic State with religious text.
A caricature published in the newspaper on 3 July showed a black flag with the words "La ilaha Illallah", which translates to "there is no God but Allah", juxtaposed with the image of a skull and crossbones. The words 'Allah' and 'Muhammad' were reportedly shown inside the "skull" image.
The newspaper has said that the caricature was meant to critique the Islamic State for using religious symbols to support its acts of violence. After five days of publication, it retracted the cartoon, calling it an "error in judgement."
Meidyatama Suryodiningrat, who heads the newspaper, has rejected the charge that he committed a crime; the Indonesia's Press Council has backed him saying the caricature was within the domain of journalism.
"We are amazed because the fact is we did not commit a criminal act as accused," the Jakarta Post editor said in a statement on Thursday. "What we produced was a journalistic piece that criticised the Isis movement, which has carried out violence in the name of religion. It means that the Isis caricature was not blasphemous."
However, several Muslim groups had objected to the cartoon, citing that it was offensive to Islam and its followers. The Jakarta Muballigh Corps (KMJ) had filed a complaint against the Post in July.
Meidyatama could face a maximum prison sentence of five years if found guilty.
Indonesia has banned the ISIS terror group and any support to it.
