Indonesian police investigate Jakarta governor
for blasphemy
for blasphemy
The governor had spoken out against political opponents who suggest the Koran bars Muslims from voting for a non-Muslim leader
By Stephen Feller
Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, pictured speaking with journalists on Nov. 7, is being
formally investigated on allegations of blasphemy for a statement he made about a passage in the
Koran that may restrict Muslims from electing a non-Muslim as their leader. Purnama, who is a
Christian, said he meant no blasphemy by the statement and told supporters he was not worried
about the allegations. Photo by Adi Weda/European Photo Agency
JAKARTA, (UPI) -- The governor of Indonesia's largest city may be charged with blasphemy for comments he made about a passage in the Koran, according to law enforcement officials in the country.
Jakarka Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama was formally named a suspect Tuesday for blasphemy and is expected to go to trial after saying political opponents were using the Koran to trick voters into voting against him, a statement which triggered the largest protests in the country in several years.
Purnama, also known by his nickname Ahok, last week accused political opponents of using a verse from the Koran that says Muslim followers should not elect a non-Muslim as a leader, saying the holy book does not actually bar them from voting for a non-Muslim.
The statement was taken by many as an insult to the religion, drawing as many as 200,000 people into the street protesting the governor and demanding he be held legally responsible for the statement.
The 'insult', apparently, is that a non-Muslim actually made reference to the Quran suggesting what it says. It matters not whether what he says is correct, only that he, a Christian, said it.
The Muslim-majority nation is protective of the religion and Ahok is a member of Indonesia's ethnic Chinese minority. He also is an ally of Indonesian President Joko Widodo, having succeeded him as Jakarta governor when Widodo won the presidential election in 2014.
Ahok told supporters Wednesday, before the announcement, that he was not worried about the potential for charges to be filed against him and vowed to continue with the race.
"Don't let your spirit be broken," Ahok said. "Can you imagine how embarrassed they who slander us will be if I am declared a suspect... and win in the first round [of the election]?"
This is an opportunity for Muslims to push against Christianity and move toward Islam becoming the state religion in Indonesia. Currently the country officially recognizes Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. Muslims, no doubt, would prefer there be only one religion.
This case will tell us a lot as to how far down this road Jakarta has come. If police actually file charges, then Islam has a pretty strong grip on this city, and ultimately, the country.
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