Dressed in a garland of flowers, the man smiled as he stood in a slow convertible, waving to the crowd gathered to see him as he was released from prison.
For many who watched the September 3 scenes in Jakarta, the extravagant reception given to famous Indonesian singer Saipul Jamil did not match the circumstances: the 41-year-old was free for the first time since his conviction more than five years for sexual assault. a 17-year-old.
The warm reception would mark the start of growing outrage against the singer, who has appeared on popular TV shows and now fills social media with posts about his travels.
A newly created official TikTok account bearing his name quickly amassed over 240,000 subscribers. One of her first video posts drew five million views and over 350,000 likes. In it, Saipul thanked his fans and followers for their support and prayers. “Welcome brother,” one follower wrote in response, using a smiling heart emoji. “Very happy bang Ipul is free,” wrote another user, using a nickname for the singer. ” With a bit of luck [he] will be a better person than before. Success for the future. “
But backlash against the star is also mounting, with TV stations across the country coming under heavy criticism for airing interviews with him. The day after his release, he appeared on a local variety show where he sang and danced in front of the audience. Excerpts from the show have since been deleted.
Indonesian media are now under pressure to ban Saipul from airwaves following petitions calling for action, which nearly 550,000 signatures from Wednesday.
Andreas Harsono, senior Indonesia researcher for Human Rights Watch, said the coverage of Saipul’s release from prison describing him as a “hero” was deeply disturbing. “The incident should be a wake-up call for many Indonesian television executives to review their editorial policies and start training their producers and journalists on human rights and trauma reporting,” he said. -he declares.
Indonesian filmmaker Angga Sasongko has said his production company will drop talks to air his films on channels that broadcast Saipul’s return. “This aims to support the movement against the celebration of sexual violence against children in the media, as well as to raise awareness of the importance of media that respect our children,” he wrote on Twitter.
A TV station apologized for Saipul’s appearance following criticism from members of the public. In a public statement made last week, the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission said local stations and networks should not amplify or glorify Saipul’s release. But in a separate interview, its chairman said it was normal for Saipul to always appear on television “for educational purposes.”
“The incident should be a wake-up call for many Indonesian television executives to review their editorial policies and start training their producers and journalists on human rights and trauma reporting. “
In response to a request for comment, Saipul’s management team referred VICE World News to a previous article in which the singer addressed the backlash.
“I served five years and seven months. The victim and I made peace [through the courts] and there is no conflict, ”he said in the long video post. “I am free from the burden… like any other citizen. “
Dangdut is a popular Indonesian folk music genre and before his arrest Saipul was one of its biggest stars. He often hosted and starred in entertainment shows and sang prominent duets with other stars.
“I am free from the burden… like any other citizen. “
But it all fell apart in 2016 when a panel of judges sentenced Saipul to three years in prison for assaulting a male fan, who was 17 at the time. The sentence was increased to five years on appeal, and he was later found guilty of attempting to bribe a clerk. The Phrases were ultimately reduced due to good behavior.
Experts say the story highlights a number of broader issues in Indonesian society, from lack of education on the seriousness of sexual abuse to celebrity glorification.
“The public needs to be aware of and show solidarity with victims of sexual violence. Of course, it is not an easy task, so we have to create radical change in society, ”said activist Naila Rizqi Zakiah of the Civil Society Coalition Against Sexual Violence.
University of Indonesia philosophy professor Saras Dewi said many tend to disregard their public figures from a moral standpoint and have been able to normalize “outrageous” behavior through sensational media coverage. “We often see them as special. Even they can avoid mistakes because of their celebrity status, ”she said.
A strong culture of victim blame also needs to be addressed, says gender activist Tunggal Pawestri, who is monitoring the case. But she also said the hindsight was positive.
“Any effort to prevent sex offenders from appearing on television is helpful,” she said. “At least it can impress the media and the public to show why sex offenders don’t deserve any platform. “
Meanwhile, videos with the star continue to be uploaded to TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. In recent days, Saipul has shared photos of a vacation he took him to Bali. And on Monday, Saipul appeared to address his detractors in a cryptic Instagram post: “Be careful of hurting a silent person who is not responding, you are not dealing with him, but his Lord. ”
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