Indonesian Students Challenge Constitutionality of Sorcery Laws in Constitutional Court

Indonesian university students have reportedly filed a judicial review request at the Constitutional Court challenging the constitutionality of articles in the criminal code pertaining to sorcery (santet). The filing is understood to have been initiated by law students who question the legality and appropriateness of the current criminal code, which penalizes acts such as sorcery and witchcraft, which lack scientific basis. According to reports, there were unusual exchanges between the Constitutional Court judges and the plaintiffs. One judge was reported to have asked the students, "Do you possess supernatural powers?" This exchange highlighted the ambiguity of the concept of sorcery and the difficulty in legally addressing it. In Indonesia, belief in and fear of sorcery (santet) remain deeply ingrained, particularly in rural areas, with related incidents having been reported in the past. Consequently, while this legal provision is considered a real issue by a segment of society, its divergence from modern legal frameworks has also been pointed out. This judicial review request could serve as an opportunity to re-examine the relationship between superstition and belief, and modern legal systems within Indonesian society.