Jakarka Governor Issues Emotional Defense Against Blasphemy Charges

Basuki Tjahaja Purnama told a courtroom Tuesday he chose his words poorly but sought to make a statement about his rival politicians, not insult the Muslim religion.

By Stephen Feller

Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, known by the nickname Ahok, at center, sits in the defendant's chair in a courtroom shortly before his blasphemy trial hearing at North Jakarta 

District Court in Jakarta, Indonesia, on December 13, 2016. Ahok is on trial for blasphemy due

to comments he made in reference to a Koranic verse while campaigning in September 2016.

Photo by Tatan Syuflana/Pool/European Pressphoto Agency

JAKARTA, (UPI) -- With tears in his eyes, the governor of Jakarta told a courtroom Tuesday he did not mean to insult Islam in a speech several weeks ago, but instead clarify the use of a phrase from the Koran he felt was being misstated to mislead voters.

Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, the Christian governor of Indonesia's largest city, defended himself on the first day of his trial for blasphemy, saying those running against him were attempting to use a line from the Koran about not voting for non-Muslims to avoid a "healthy" competition in the election.

"I am very sad that I have been accused of insulting Muslims. It is the same to me as insulting my godparents, my family," Purnama, known by his nickname, Ahok, told the court as protesters outside the courthouse nearly drowned him out. "My godparents love for me had a deep impact."

Ahok, who is ethnically Chinese and Christian and the adoptive son of a religious Muslim family, was investigated and charged by the government after a September 26 speech calling out his opponents for the use of verse 51 of the fifth Surat, referred to as the al-Maida.


No voting for non-Muslim 

The al-Maida commands Muslims to never vote for a non-Muslim as leader. Ahok said his political opponents use of it was an incorrect interpretation because it was written at a time when there were concerns Muslims who opposed the Prophet Muhammad would join with non-Muslims to have him killed.

"So clearly it wasn't intended to refer to choosing a government leader," he said. "In Indonesia, a government leader is not a religious leader," Ahok said. "[My comments] were aimed at elite politicians who incorrectly used the al-Maida verse because they refused to compete in a healthy way during a local election."

Ahok told the court his quip during the speech -- "That's your right, so if you can't choose me because you are afraid you will go to hell, that's OK," he said -- was meant as a lighthearted response to those attempting to use religion against him among the 90 percent Muslim populace in Indonesia.

"In this case, perhaps my language might have given the wrong perception or interpretation from what I had intended or meant," Ahok said in court.

Though he asked the court to dismiss the charges so he can "go back to serving the citizens of Jakarta and developing the city," many in the city, including the thousands who have continued to protest him, including during the trial's first day, don't agree. And among the 100 blasphemy convictions in Indonesia in the last decade, just one did not result in a conviction.

Ahok is next due in court on Dec. 20. If found guilty, the mayor could be sentenced to up to five years in jail.

Indonesian courts, even at the highest levels are subject to influence. Just ask Neil Bantleman.

30,000 Counter-March in Indonesia's War on Christianity

Tens of thousands march in Indonesia to support first Christian governor after ‘blasphemy’ protests

    People attend a rally calling for national unity and tolerance in central Jakarta, Indonesia 
    December 4, 2016. © Darren Whiteside / Reuters

Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital, to show national unity and call for tolerance after a 200,000-strong Muslim rally demanded the arrest of the city’s first Christian governor for alleged blasphemy.

Crowds holding up ‘We are Indonesia’ signs and waving red-and-white national flags flooded the streets of Jakarta on Sunday, filling a major traffic circle downtown, AP reported.

The rally reportedly was organized in response to two massive protests staged in the past month by hardline Muslim conservatives against Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, nicknamed ‘Ahok’ – the first ethnic Chinese governor of Jakarta and the first Christian to hold the post in 50 years.

According to Jakarta police spokesman Argo Yuwono, roughly 30,000 people attended the rally.

The ‘Parade of Indonesian Culture,’ as the unity demonstration was dubbed by its organizers, featured traditional dances from Sabang in the country’s westernmost Aceh region to Merauke in its easternmost Papua region.

Political leaders from President Joko Widodo’s pro-government coalition also attended the rally to promote unity in the ethnically diverse country.

“We have to fight to materialize the aims of our independence. That will not happen if we are scattered, blaspheming, humiliating each other and no longer trust each other,” Surya Paloh, chairman of the National Democratic Party, was quoted as saying by AP.

“Our main enemies are stupidity and poverty. Therefore, we ask the current government to work harder and persistently on fulfilling the people’s aspirations,” he added.

Earlier on Friday, Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim country, saw at least 200,000 people call for the arrest of Governor Purnama, who has been accused of disrespecting the Koran – a charge that could put him in prison for five years.

“Let’s defend our religion,” Rizieq Shihab, leader of the Islamic Defenders’ Front (FPI) – a hardline Islamist group – said at the rally in a speech quoted by AFP. “Stop all forms of religious blasphemy and put all violators on trial.”

It's not about defending Islam, it's is about attacking Christianity. 

Purnama got into trouble when he used a quote from the Koran in a speech about his political opponents, who he accused of misinterpreting the verse to urge people to vote against him. The Governor has since apologized for his remark, saying that he had intended to criticize his opponents, and not the holy book itself.

It appears Ahok quoted the Quran correctly but is being accused of blasphemy by those who quoted it incorrectly for political purposes. Those are the people who should be on trial for blasphemy. 

Cudos to the organizers of today's parade. To pull together such an extensive cultural event in a couple days is quite extraordinary.