Indonesia blasphemy case: Emotional scenes

as Ahok trial begins

13 December 2016

From the section Asia

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Image copyright EPA Image caption The trial is being shown on national television

There were emotional scenes in court on the first day of the blasphemy trial of Jakarta's
governor, a Christian of Chinese descent.

Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, known as Ahok, cried as he denied allegations he insulted Islam.

Mr Purnama is the first non-Muslim governor of Indonesia's capital in 50 years.

The case is being seen as a test of religious tolerance in the world's largest Muslim-majority
nation.

The prosecution said Mr Purnama insulted Islam by misusing a Koranic verse which suggests
Muslims should not be ruled by non-Muslims, to boost public support ahead of February's
governorship election.

He insisted his comments were aimed at politicians "incorrectly" using a Koranic verse against
him, not at the verse itself.

If convicted, he faces a maximum five-year jail sentence. After the short hearing, the trial was
adjourned until 20 December.

Rights groups say the authorities have set a dangerous precedent in which a noisy hardline
Islamic minority can influence the legal process, says the BBC's Rebecca Henschke in Jakarta.

Read more: Who is Jakarta's non-Muslim governor?

At the scene: Rebecca Henschke, BBC Indonesian

Image caption Opponents of the governor, and a smaller group of supporters, made their feelings
heard
In the streets outside court, hundreds of demonstrators, mostly men, gathered to protest. "Jail
Governor Ahok now," they chanted. They punched their fists in the air and shouted: "We must
defend Islam from those who insult the holy book."

It was a much smaller crowd than the huge demonstrations in Jakarta in recent weeks, but the
anger remained the same. From a lorry, Islamic hard-line leaders made provocative speeches
calling the governor a pig, and the crowd laughed when they mocked his Chinese appearance.
One speaker turned to police officers standing guard and warned them that if Governor Ahok
were not jailed, they would take matters into their own hands.

A smaller group of Ahok supporters were also there, dressed in his signature colourful shirts.
Dertha Djawa Digigy, a Christian from eastern Indonesia, said she saw the trial as an attack
against all Christians and believed the country's founding principles of unity and diversity were
being tested.

Who is 'Ahok'?
A businessman who became Jakarta's deputy governor, Mr Purnama was made governor when
his predecessor Joko Widodo became president in 2014.

At the time, the hardline Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) said it did not want him to succeed Mr
Widodo, arguing a Christian should not govern a Muslim-majority city. They have played a
major role in the latest protests against the governor.

Seen as politically independent, he was popular for his tough stance against corruption, and for
improving poor public transport and other public services.

What are the allegations?

During campaigning in September, Mr Purnama made a speech where he said Islamic groups
using a Koranic verse against him were deceiving voters.

The verse is interpreted by some as prohibiting Muslims from living under the leadership of a
non-Muslim.

Islamic groups said he had criticised the Koran and complained to police, who began an
investigation. Mr Purnama has repeatedly apologised but denied blasphemy.

His supporters say a widely-circulated video of the event had been edited and subtitled to make it
appear he was criticising the verse, rather than those invoking it.

Image caption In November, about 100,000 Islamists demanded Mr Purnama's arrest in a protest
that turned violent
What is the significance of a blasphemy charge?
Although Indonesia's constitution guarantees freedom of religion, the country only recognises six
religions and has tough penalties for blasphemy against any of them.

But observers say the laws are sometimes used against religious minorities.

Atheists too have been prosecuted, with one man sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail in
2012 for saying on Facebook that God does not exist.

Is there more to it?

President Widodo has blamed "political actors" for taking advantage of the furore.

The case has benefitted Mr Purnama's rivals in the election race where he was previously seen as
the frontrunner.

Some observers say the case shows that Indonesia, historically a moderate Muslim nation, is
becoming more radical.

However, Indonesia's largest Islamic group, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), told its members not to take
part in the anti-Ahok rallies.

Image caption Mr Purnama (right) became governor when his predecessor Joko Widodo (left)
was elected president

In 1998, a wave of anti-Chinese sentiment led to mobs looting and burning Chinese-owned shops
and houses, leaving more than 1,000 people dead.

Christians represent less than 10% of the country's 250 million people, and ethnic Chinese about
1%.