It will not be easy to calm the political turmoil triggered by a sensitive issue like religious blasphemy. President Joko Widodo must be smart in dealing with this in a way that democracy does not become anarchy, but allowing the police to take action over alleged treasonous acts, is not wise.

From the perspective of democratic norms, the steps taken by the police were excessive. In a throwback to the days of Dutch colonialism, eight political lea