ITB Student Detained Over Prabowo-Jokowi Kissing Meme; Palace Responds

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of the Presidential Communication Office (PCO), Hasan Nasbi, responded to the arrest of a Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) student for posting a meme depicting President Prabowo and former President Joko Widodo kissing.

Hasan advised the student to undergo mentorship instead of penal sanction, as the uploaded meme was a form of expression. "The student could receive guidance and education to become better, instead of being punished. Because we are looking at this within the context of democracy," he said on Saturday, May 10, 2025.

The government, however, is entrusting the case to the Indonesian police, especially regarding the existing law. "As for the law, we leave it to the enforcers," he said.

Director of Amnesty International Indonesia Usman Hamid considers the Faculty of Art and Design student's arrest, with the initials SSS, for posting the viral meme as a criminalization of freedom of expression.

The arrest reflects the repressive acts showcased by the government to silence critical voices, Usman said on Friday, adding that Prabowo's government this time uses "the argument of decency" to justify the arrest.

The Criminal Investigation Bureau (Bareskrim) of the Indonesian National Police previously charged the ITB student under Article 45 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 27 paragraph (1), and Article 51 paragraph (1) of the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (ITE Law).

Head of Public Relations Division of Indonesian National Police, Commissioner Erdi A. Chaniago said on Friday that the investigation is underway for the case.

Meanwhile, Director of Communication and Public Relations of ITB Nurlaela Arief stated that the campus has spoken with SSS's parents. "The parents had come to ITB and apologized," said Nurlaela in an official statement on Friday, May 9, 2025.

Nurlaela mentioned that the campus has coordinated with the Parents Association of Students (IOM) and will provide assistance to the student.

Dede Leni and Hammam Izzuddin contributed to the writing of this article.

Editor’s Choice: Police Urged to Free ITB Student Who Posted Prabowo-Jokowi Kiss Meme

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