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Isabel Yahya was one of Indonesian top models. Clearly she has been accustomed to high level fashion and can very well differentiate art from pornography. But not all people shared her professional mind. Together with her co-model Anjasmara, she was entangled in controversy with a radical front due to her semi-naked photo in 2005 CP Biennale exhibition.

Category : Indecency, Pornography, Religious Disgrace

Case : Isabel Yahya vs FPI on Nude Photography in CP Biennale Exhibition

Indictment : Article 282 Criminal Code on Indecency

Year : 2005

Time Span : Begun in September 2005 and ended in November 2006

Here's the Case

The 2005 CP Biennale exhibition with “Urban Culture” theme toke place in the Bank of Indonesia Museum, displaying various art installations and digital photography. One of the artwork, called “Pink Swing Park” showed Anjasmara and Isabel Yahya appearing almost nude in a park, mirroring the image of Adam and Eve in paradise. The installation that was photographed by Davy Linggar drew violent protests from "Islamic Defenders Front” (FPI). The exhibition that was supposed to held for one month from September 5 – Oktober 5, 2005 was then abruptly closed in September 27, 2005.

The Lawsuit and Its Journey

The Islamic Defender Front originally intended to report the case on the basis of pornography and religious disgrace as the photo was interpreted as blasphemy towards the prophet Adam A.S and Siti Hawa. The official lawsuit however was mainly about the indecency case which were filed by the FPI in October 2005, against:

• Anjasmara, as the model

• Isabel Yahya, as the model

• Davy Linggar, as the photographer

• Agus Suwage, as the idea originator

• Jim Supangat, as the founder and chief curator of CP Biennale foundation

Police investigation was done on Februari 16, 2006 against Isabel Yahya in Polda Metro Jaya.

She was accompanied by her lawyers, Todung Mulya Lubis and Lelyana Santoso, and was asked 34 questions for 2 hours regarding the chronology of the controversial photo shoot. Todung Mulya Lubis Law Office also acted as the lawyer for Davy Linggar, Agus Suwage and Jim Supangat, while Anjas was represented by another lawyer.

Anjasmara was then known to come to FPI headquarters to publicly apologize, but his co-model Isabel Yahya didn't. Abel, the nickname of Isabel Yahya, however once came to Nadhatul Ulama's main office in Kramat Jati, Jakarta to ask support from Gus Dur in March 16, 2006. Gus Dur himself was not available to see her at that time due to his hospital treatment. His remark on this whole case was the famous “Gitu aja diurusin!” (Why bother this thing!) Overall, Abel remained on her point that she only did her job as a model professionally and the photo was indeed a piece of art.

In November 24, 2006, Polda Metro Jaya declared that investigation against Anjas is terminated. Isabel's lawyer further concluded that this should mean the whole case did not adequately meet the requirements. After the case, Abel still received many job offers and thus intended to stay active in modeling world.