JAKARTA, Literasi Hukum – Constitutional Court (MK) rejected in its entirety petition Number 274/PUU-XXIII/2025 filed by nine students to challenge Article 302 paragraph (1) of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code. The Constitutional Court affirmed that the provision is not a prohibition to change one's belief, but rather a prohibition to 'incite in public' for someone to become irreligious or abandon their faith.

Constitutional Justice Daniel Yusmic P. Foekh states that Article 302 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code "emphasizes" the prohibition of open incitement, as such actions have the potential to create social pressure against individuals/groups related to their beliefs.

Constitutional Court: What is Prohibited is Open Incitement, Not Religious Conversion

The Constitutional Court considers that the act of "inciting in public" in that article can be provocative, manipulative, or agitational, thereby disturbing social stability and individual freedom in practicing their beliefs. At the same time, the Constitutional Court affirmed that this article is not intended to restrict academic discussions, interfaith dialogues, scientific critiques, or rational theological debates that do not impose will.

The Constitutional Court also referred to the Elucidation of Article 302 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code, which explicitly states that the provision not a restriction bagi seseorang untuk berpindah agama atau kepercayaan.

Latar Permohonan: Frasa “Menghasut” Dinilai Multitafsir

Para pemohon (sembilan mahasiswa) mempersoalkan frasa “menghasut” karena dinilai tidak didefinisikan secara jelas sehingga berpotensi menimbulkan ketidakpastian hukum dan membuka peluang kriminalisasi ketika warga menyatakan pendapat/pikiran/keyakinan di ruang publik.

Permohonan ini sebelumnya telah disidangkan dan diberitakan MK sejak tahap pemeriksaan pendahuluan, termasuk perbaikan permohonan.
Isu serupa juga sempat menjadi perhatian media nasional, yang menyoroti kekhawatiran pemohon atas potensi multitafsir frasa “menghasut”.

Konteks Pasal 302 KUHP

Pasal 302 ayat (1) KUHP mengatur ancaman pidana bagi setiap orang yang publicly incite with the intent that someone becomes irreligious or abandons a belief adhered to in Indonesia, with a maximum penalty of 2 years imprisonment or a category III fine.

The Constitutional Court affirmed that the article must still be read within the framework of protecting freedom of religion/belief and constitutional freedom of expression, so that it must not be practiced to restrict changes in belief or legitimate discourse.

This news is a synthesis of information from several credible sources to present a verified, complete, and balanced report to readers.