The UII Rector slams the intimidation of the chair of the UGM BEM: Criticism is not a crime!

Jogja, Thekabarnews.com—UII Rector Fathul Wahid spoke out against the alleged threats targeting Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Student Executive Board (BEM) Chair Tiyo Ardianto. The event has led to new conversations about how to protect student activism and freedom of speech in Indonesia.

Threatening WhatsApp messages from unknown numbers have flooded Tiyo’s phone since Monday, February 9. The senders wrote messages such as “Want to be kidnapped?” and “Stop spreading false narratives for attention,” and several of them carried clear threats.

Fathul Wahid said that the Constitution protects a person’s right to free speech. The Higher Education Governance Capacity Building Workshop took place on Monday, February 16, 2026, at Universitas Islam Al-Azhar. He said that the government needs to change how it deals with criticism from the public, especially from students and activists.

“Being critical isn’t a sin. The Constitution protects and safeguards criticism,” Fathul said, adding that silencing dissent violates the Constitution.

He stressed that Indonesia’s young people, especially those in college, are crucial to the country’s future. Instead of seeing critical voices as enemies, it is better to support and promote them.

“The youth of today have new ideas and the hope of a better Indonesia in the future,” he said.

We should support and encourage these voices, not silence or bully them. He went on to say that people’s fear for their safety clearly goes against their right to free speech.

Fathul also said that calling dissent anti-state isn’t a beneficial idea. He thinks that criticism is a way to keep public officials accountable.

No one can promise that the people in charge will always make the right choices. Feedback is a beneficial way to remember things. We need to stop seeing people who disagree with us as enemies. He stressed that the way people looked at things needed to change.

Fathul also stressed how important it is for students, especially those at UII, to keep thinking critically about national issues. He thinks that as a citizen, you should speak out against the government’s actions and policies.

This case continues to draw attention to the issues of online bullying and the shrinking space for public debate, according to observers. As discussions continue, academic leaders have urged the government to protect free speech rights as guaranteed by the Constitution.