The editor-in-chief of Playboy Indonesia has been found innocent of violating indecency laws in the world's most populous Muslim nation and will not face time behind bars. Erwin Arnada had faced a maximum punishment of more than two years in prison in a case closely watched by conservative Muslim groups. Arnada, who had vowed to continue publishing the magazine whatever the court's decision, later described the verdict as victory for press freedom. But lawyers for some Islamic groups have said they will seek to bring another prosecution against the magazine.
Reading his verdict, Efran Basyuning, the presiding judge of the South Jakarta District Court, said pictures of scantily dressed women could not, under criminal laws, "be categorised as pornography." Hundreds of police armed with water canon were deployed outside the court in anticipation of any backlash from a crowd of protesters over the verdict. Prosecutors had called for Arnada to be jailed in the case seen as pitting press freedom against conservative Islamic values in the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation.
The prosecution said Arnada had upset society and damaged Indonesia's morals. But Arnada argued that Playboy Indonesia does not publish photographs of