Muslim woman convicted of blasphemy in Maratam

She taught her followers that the Qurʾān does not require Muslims to pray. She also rejected the ahadith (words, actions, and habits attributed to the prophet) as religious guidelines. The court found her guilty of violating Article 156 of the Criminal Code. The prosecutor had demanded three years in prison.

Jakarta (AsiaNews/Agencies) – An Indonesian court sentenced Siti Aisyah, a woman who owns an Islamic learning centre (pictured), to two years and six months in prison for spreading "misguided" religious teachings.

The Mataram district court (West Nusa Tenggara province) handed down a lighter sentence than the three years requested by the prosecutor.

Presiding judge Didiek Jatmiko said that Siti was guilty of spreading teachings that contravene Islamic principles.

The judge noted that the accused rejected the charges, reiterating that what she teaches does not go against the principles of Islam.

Siti, who owns the Rumah Mengenal Al-Qurʾān (Home to learn the Qurʾān), said that she taught her followers that the Qurʾān does not require Muslims to pray.

She also reportedly rejected the ahadith (words, actions, and habits attributed to the prophet) as religious guidelines.

In Islamic doctrine, the millions of collected anecdotes about Muhammad's life, his speeches and actions passed on in the oral tradition constitute the Sunnah, the second source for Islamic Law (Sharia) after the Qurʾān itself. However, many scholars have doubts about their authenticity.

• indonesia
• islam
• qurʾān
• sunnah
• ahadith
• trial
• sharia
• religious freedom