UGM Law Faculty Condemns Intimidation of Lecturer Criticizing Ministry Policy

The Faculty of Law at Universitas Gadjah Mada (FH UGM) has strongly condemned alleged intimidation and suppression of free speech directed at one of its lecturers, Nabiyla Risfa Izzati. The faculty announced it would provide institutional protection and legal assistance to the lecturer.

In a statement released Friday, July 17, 2026, Dean Dahliana Hasan declared that any form of intimidation, threats, or attempts to silence members of the academic community undermine academic freedom. "Such actions not only attack an individual but also damage the integrity of educational institutions and democratic principles in Indonesia," the statement read.

FH UGM leadership and its academic community are committed to fully protecting Nabiyla Risfa Izzati, ensuring that all faculty members upholding academic integrity receive institutional support. The faculty is prepared to offer moral support and legal aid, pledging to utilize all available resources to safeguard her constitutional rights.

The faculty's statement comes amid scrutiny over the alleged intimidation of Nabiyla, which reportedly stemmed from her criticism of a personnel mutation policy at the Ministry of Public Works on social media platform X. Following her critique, Nabiyla allegedly received threatening messages from an unknown number, which included her personal data like her national ID number, home address, and location coordinates, leading to a legal notice (somasi).

Nabiyla has responded by appointing a law firm to issue a legal warning to the owner of the threatening phone number. Her legal counsel, IBLM Law Group, officially sent a final warning on July 17, 2026, to the individual behind the threats. As of Friday, there had been no further response from the number's owner.