Police said former sport and youth minister Roy Suryo’s arrest was aimed at preventing him from removing any evidence. PHOTO: ROY SURYO/TWITTER

Indonesian police have arrested a former minister on charges of hate speech and blasphemy after he posted pictures of President Joko Widodo’s face digitally superimposed on a Buddhist statue. Former sport and youth minister Roy Suryo’s arrest, which included the seizure of his Twitter account and mobile phone, was aimed at preventing him from removing any evidence, said police spokesperson Endra Zulpan. /Twitter/

Workers clean volcanic ash off the stupas at the Borobudur temple in Magelang Regency. Suryo’s now-deleted tweet was posted in June after the government announced plans to raise the entry price at the ancient Borobudur complex in central Java – the world’s largest Buddhist temple. It later shelved those plans after facing criticism. AFP

A 1,000-meter long Indonesian national flag is seen with the 9th century Borobudur temple as a backdrop during a parade marking Pancasila Day, which commemorates the five principles of Indonesia’s foundational state philosophy, in Magelang, Central Java on June 1, 2022. AFP