INDONESIA: Christian Governor Insists No Insult Intended

Source: World Watch Monitor, December 13, 2017

Indonesian Christian governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (better known as “Ahok”) fought back tears during the first day of his blasphemy trial [December 13].

Ahok—only the second Christian and the second governor of Chinese descent to lead the Indonesian capital city, Jakarta—is alleged to have “misused” a Qur’anic verse (which, some say, suggests Muslims should not be ruled by non-Muslims) during a speech in early October.

Some Muslim leaders accused him of insulting Islam by quoting from the Qur’an. He apologized, but said his comments were directed at politicians “incorrectly” using the verse against him and not a criticism of the verse itself.

The trial is widely seen as a test of the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation’s stance on religious freedom, since the country has a large Christian minority.

It was broadcast live on TV and Ahok continued to protest his innocence, telling the court: “I had no intention of insulting Muslims or insulting the clergy. On that basis, I plead with the judges to consider my exception plea.”

» Read full story.

» Also read The Story Behind a Massive Muslim Protest against a Christian Governor (Christian Science Monitor).

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