No signs of outright support, banners or protest signs were seen in the vicinity of a trial held at the Muaro Sijunjung District Court, located some 80 kilometers from Padang, on Monday last week. Apart from the father and younger sibling of the defendant, no other visitor attended the session. This trial was no ordinary trial of blasphemy however, having triggered intense debate nationwide.

The defendant was 30-year-old Alexander Aan, a candidat