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mid the angry criticisms aired by the leaders of FPI (Islamic Defenders Front), a hard-line Islamic group, against Governor Basuki '€œAhok'€ Tjahaja Purnama, Ahok encouraged Jakarta'€™s Muslim youth, entreating them to uphold the values of tolerance found in the Holy Koran and the national motto, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity).

During the inauguration of board members of the Indonesian Mosque Youth Communication Forum (BKPRMI) at City Hall in Central Jakarta on Friday, the Governor said that children should learn about tolerance starting at a young age.

'€œThere are certain groups provoking other people to hate me because of my religion. This is what happens if you do not understand and uphold the Holy Koran,'€ Ahok told dozens of new BKPRMI executives and members.

The audience wearing peci (rimless caps) and headscarves listened attentively and applauded Ahok for his humor.

Ahok recently sent a letter to the Home Ministry asking for the disbandment of FPI, whose protests against Ahok'€™s inauguration have devolved into riots and whose use of violence in the name of Islam he deemed against the Constitution.

'€œAs the new board of the BKPRMI, you must also make sure that youths understand and uphold all that is written in the Holy Koran so that they will become good people who lead good lives,'€ Ahok said.

Ahok added that although he was Christian, he understood Islamic values like rahmatan lil alamin '€” an Arabic phrase that means '€œgrace to all people'€. He said that some groups in society did not adhere to these Islamic values of tolerance.

'€œI am sure all of you are smart enough to understand what is right and what is wrong. You must not be affected by people who stray from the values of Islam but claim to be defending the religion,'€ he said.

Ahok went on to say that the city administration had many plans in store for mosques in Jakarta.

'€œWe want to help renovate and build mosques in lower-class neighborhoods. We are also looking into developing green areas around existing mosques. Moreover, like Bandung [in West Java], we also plan to put up Wi-Fi in mosques,'€ he said.

Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil began installing Wi-Fi in mosques across the city with the hope that more youngsters would visit them in favor of clubs and malls.

Ahok also said that the city would pay for umroh (minor pilgrimage) for more than 50 mosque-keepers each year. This year, he said, the city had already paid for 30 mosque-keepers to go on umroh.

'€œOne day, insyaallah [God willing], we also want to pay for Haj for mosque-keepers,'€ he said.

Meanwhile, Ana, a BKPRMI member from Cempaka Putih in Central Jakarta, said that the Muslim community in Jakarta had great respect for Ahok.

'€œWe respect Pak Ahok very much. I think what Pak Ahok said about upholding the principles of the Holy Koran and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika was right. We must not sow hatred against other faiths just
because of one small difference,'€ Ana said.

She went on to say that the BKPRMI also respected the city administration'€™s efforts to build and renovate mosques across the city and to pay for mosque-keeper'€™s pilgrimages.

'€œI think it is quite unprecedented for a city administration to give us so much support,'€ Ana said.

'€” JP/ Dewanti A. Wardhani