Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta.  Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra clarified on Friday (26/9/2025) that the government will not impose restrictions on publishing books with certain ideologies, including leftist thought, amid concerns after police recently seized books from activists.

“There is no implication that the government will ban the publication of books. That will not happen,” he said at a press briefing in Jakarta, as reported by antaranews.com.

The seizures, Minister Yusril explained, were part of police investigations into recent unrest following nationwide protests in late August, not an attempt to censor public reading materials. 

Hel emphasized that Indonesia has long moved away from banning publications, and the Attorney General’s Office no longer exercises authority to suppress media or books.

He added that the government is monitoring the spread of anarchist ideas, which he claimed are increasingly circulated online. The case has sparked debate, as rights officials warned book seizures conflict with democratic values and freedom of expression.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)