Does anyone at all understand why religion is not illegal everywhere? It just seems stupid.

@Malay:

And? Freedom of religion is a human right, and that includes the right not to believe. Indonesia and other theocracies like it need reform. This is an outrage, and I hope Satan makes Indonesia pay for it.

These critics knew how to read english but miserably fails to comprehend.

It's very simple, the country has it's own set of rules and laws and the guy was well aware that those laws exists yet he chose to challenge it which landed him into trouble. One should always remember that a law is a law. Either you abide by it or get into trouble.

No wonder the world is getting more complicated because people always wanted to impose whatever they want to a whole race.

Andy #15: Prove it.

I believe that I am a god. Not the god but a god; therefore I beleive that there is a god and it is me.

Now you understand why John Lennon wrote the line "and no religion too" in Imagine.

@#4 "Note to journalists: its 2012. We're living in the future. The internet doesnt make something tech news."

HA! brilliant.

Personally I believe in God, but it makes me sick that in this day and age, someone can be imprisoned for being Atheist... Each to their own.

And at those saying God doesn't exist, you are being extremely naive... I can't prove that God exists, but you can't prove he doesn't exist either.

Let's not forget that New Zealand still has laws against blasphemy - see Section 123 of the Crimes Act.

Another success story in America's mission to spread democracy around the world! Indonesia was a fairly moderate country until the CIA helped overthrow Sukarno. They installed the usual murderous dictator - Suharto - and provided him with a list of "communists", which they ticked of as his thugs rampaged through the country murdering 300,000 "communists" (read teachers, political opposition, university lectures & trade union members). They then provided him with decades of massive military aid, in full knowledge of what he was doing to his own people & in East Timor. Isn't it strange how it's the countries whose social structure has been torn apart that tend to fall to extremists?!