Academics: Incitement Perpetrators Arrested Not Threats Of Civil Freedom

A father hugged his son who was finally sent home by Polda Metro Jaya after being arrested during an action in front of the DPR/MPR RI building, Tuesday (26/8/2025). (ANTARA/

JAKARTA - Academician or postgraduate lecturer at Muhammadiyah University, North Sumatra (UMSU) Alpi Sahari views that the arrest of the perpetrators of incitement by the Directorate of General Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimum) of the Metro Jaya Police is not a threat to Civil Freedom.

"This arrest cannot be considered as a form of error or violation of due process of law. On the contrary, this action is part of an effort to protect the public interest and guarantee children's rights as guaranteed by law," said Alpi in a statement confirmed in Jakarta, Saturday.

In addition, he explained that in the Indonesian criminal law system, forced measures such as arrests can only be carried out if they meet the elements of criminal law.

Therefore, he views the importance of the public to understand law enforcement which is seen as a form of control over crime, not a threat to Civil Freedom.

"If there is a narrative calling this arrest a form of criminalization or an attempt to silence freedom of expression, then it is too early and has the potential to mislead the public," he said.

According to him, this narrative is actually an effort to degrade law enforcement institutions in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, he explained that incitement has a specific legal meaning, and cannot be equated with invitations or recommendations alone.

"The investigation has a strong intention to encourage other people to commit crimes. There must be no criminal act to declare this offense complete, but after the Constitutional Court Decree Number 7/PUU-VII/2009, it must be proven that there is a causal relationship between incitement and the consequences that arise," he explained.

Thus, he said, the police's actions against perpetrators of incitement were not merely law enforcement, but part of efforts to protect the wider community and vulnerable groups, especially children, from the impact of criminal acts caused.