A citizen named Rizki Abdul Rahman Wahid reported comedian Pandji Pragiwaksono to Polda Metro Jaya on January 8, 2026, for alleged defamation of Islamic organizations Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah via his stand-up comedy Mens Rea. Polda Metro Jaya stated it will analyze evidence and clarify involved parties, while Muhammadiyah's central leadership denied involvement of any Aliansi Muda Muhammadiyah as the reporter.
On January 8, 2026, Rizki Abdul Rahman Wahid, claiming to represent Angkatan Muda Nahdlatul Ulama and Aliansi Muda Muhammadiyah, filed a police report against comedian Pandji Pragiwaksono with Polda Metro Jaya. The report, numbered LP/B/166/I/2026/SPKT, accuses Pandji of public incitement, blasphemy, and defaming Indonesia's largest Islamic organizations, related to his stand-up comedy special titled Mens Rea.
Mens Rea is Pandji's 10th comedy special addressing legal culture, social ironies, and politics in Indonesia. Rizki stated that the material humiliates and slanders NU and Muhammadiyah, particularly narratives on their involvement in practical politics that allegedly stir public unrest and divide youth. "We are reporting a case that, in our view, he humiliates, slanders, and tends to cause uproar in the media space," Rizki told reporters.
Head of Public Relations at Polda Metro Jaya, Kombes Pol Budi Hermanto, confirmed receipt of the report and said investigators will conduct clarifications and analyze evidence, including video recordings of the Mens Rea material. "Investigators will carry out clarifications and evidence analysis so the public remains wise in conveying information," Budi said. He also urged the public to give space to the law enforcement process.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Majelis Pembinaan Kader and Human Resources of Muhammadiyah's Central Leadership, Bachtiar Dwi Kurniawan or Gus Bach, denied the existence of Aliansi Muda Muhammadiyah in the official structure. "There is no Aliansi Muda Muhammadiyah in Muhammadiyah's official structure," he emphasized. Muhammadiyah respects legal channels but stresses that individual actions do not reflect the organization's official stance. Gus Bach called for maintaining media ethics and building the community constructively.
The controversy has drawn support from Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or Ahok, who called Pandji's criticism smart and brave. "I'm totally pro on that," Ahok said after watching Mens Rea on Netflix. Additionally, Pandji apologized for mistakenly naming the Attorney General's Office as the owner of Rp1 trillion in cash in his material, which actually involved a former Supreme Court official.
