Playboy on Trial in Indonesia
The editor of the Indonesian version of Playboy magazine is on trial for indecency in the world's most populous Muslim state. The magazine contains no nudity, but the prosecution cited the "inviting expressions" of the underwear-clad models as one of the reasons it is asking for the maximum penalty of 32 months.
The editor of the Indonesian version of Playboy magazine is on trial for indecency in the world’s most populous Muslim state. The magazine contains no nudity, but the prosecution cited the “inviting expressions” of the underwear-clad models as one of the reasons it is asking for the maximum penalty of 32 months.
WAIT BEFORE YOU GO...Guardian:
Editor-in-chief Erwin Arnada has argued Playboy was good for developing a pluralistic society in Indonesia. But the prosecution told the South Jakarta court that the edition was lewd and broke the law, alleging that Mr. Arnada selected revealing pictures of female models in underwear, some showing partially exposed breasts.
The magazine’s first edition sparked protests in Indonesia in April although it had no nudity and less flesh was visible in the issue than many other magazines on sale in the world’s most populous Muslim country.
“Photos, drawings and articles in Playboy Indonesia magazine were results of the defendant’s selection. They were unsuitable for civility and could arouse lust among readers so they violated feelings of decency,” said prosecutor Resni Muchtar, who is demanding the maximum sentence.
“The models also had inviting expressions on their faces,” he added.
The subsequent editions of the magazine are still on sale in Indonesian cities and there has been no government move to ban it.
This year, the ground feels uncertain — facts are buried and those in power are working to keep them hidden. Now more than ever, independent journalism must go beneath the surface.
At Truthdig, we don’t just report what's happening — we investigate how and why. We follow the threads others leave behind and uncover the forces shaping our future.
Your tax-deductible donation fuels journalism that asks harder questions and digs where others won’t.
Don’t settle for surface-level coverage.
Unearth what matters. Help dig deeper.
Donate now.
You need to be a supporter to comment.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.