New Criminal Code

Building on prior explanations of the legal history behind insult clauses, Indonesia's Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai and Deputy Justice Minister Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej further addressed concerns over Article 218 (insulting the president) and introduced Article 256 (demonstration notifications) in the new Criminal Code, effective January 2, 2026. Pigai compared it to unused provisions in Germany, while Hiariej cited a fatal traffic incident in West Sumatra.