Sometimes A Poll Is A Slippery Thing

By DAVID ELLIS

Religion is a dicey subject for humor: just ask Arswendo Atmowiloto, editor of the now defunct Jakarta newspaper Monitor. The tabloid had asked readers to vote for Indonesia's most "admirable public figures." More than 600 names were sent in on 33,900 postcards. President Suharto led with 5,003 votes, and a variety of government officials, pop stars and even Saddam Hussein filled out the top nine slots. Arswendo finished 10th, just ahead of the Prophet Muhammad. Monitor reporters had warned their boss to leave Islam's founder off the list, and now Arswendo is paying for his lack of caution. The editor has been sentenced to five years in prison for blasphemy and fined $5,200 for equating Muhammad with ordinary mortals. One consolation for Muslims: with only five votes, Jesus Christ did not make the list.

With reporting by Sidney Urquart