Controversial Cleric Arrested for Allowing Women to Preach in Muslim-Majority Country

A Muslim cleric in Indonesia has been arrested on charges of blasphemy and hate speech after allowing women to preach and pray alongside men at his boarding school. The Al-Zaytun school has faced backlash for its unorthodox practices, including gender-integrated prayer sessions and women serving as imams. While mainstream Islamic schools typically segregate men and women during prayers, the school's practices have angered conservative religious groups. The cleric, Panji Gumilang, could face up to 10 years in prison if found guilty. Rights groups warn that religious freedom and tolerance are under threat in Indonesia, with blasphemy laws increasingly being used against religious minorities and critics of Islam.