Mahfud MD Defends Saiful Mujani, Says Treason Accusations are Fabricated
Former Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD has defended Saiful Mujani, a political science professor at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah, regarding a report filed with the Metro Jaya Regional Police accusing him of treason to overthrow President Prabowo Subianto. In a statement on his official YouTube channel on April 22, 2026, Mahfud considered the accusations baseless, saying similar statements have been commonplace since previous administrations.
Mahfud, also a former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, emphasized that expressing opinions is protected by the constitution as long as it does not violate criminal law. He cited Article 193 of Law No. 1 of 2023, explaining that treason must involve elements of overthrowing or replacing the government, which he argued were not met in this case.
The report against Saiful Mujani has been ongoing since April 10, 2026, with several parties, including MPSI Executive Director Noor Azhari and representatives from various community alliances, also filing reports. Mahfud deemed this process unfair and a waste of time.
https://www.gelora.co/2026/04/