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Police to follow up religious defamation report against Ahok
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Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
T
he National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) will follow up a report that Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama committed religious defamation, Bareskrim chief Insp. Gen. Ari Dono Sukmanto confirmed on Friday.
He said Habib Novel Chaidir Hasan, the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) secretary-general, filed the report to Bareskrim on Thursday.
"Bareskrim has [received the report]. After we have finished an internal meeting during the dusk prayer [maghrib] and we will follow it up for sure," Ari said on Friday.
Habib accused Ahok of religious defamation when the incumbent talked about Surah al-Maidah verse 51 of the Quran during a visit to Thousand Islands Regency.
In part of his speech, Ahok said, “In your inner hearts, Bapak/Ibu may not vote for me, because [you have been] lied to by Surah al-Maidah, verse 51, etc. It is your rights. So you do not need to feel uneasy if you cannot vote for me because you are afraid of being condemned to hell as you are being fooled. It is alright.”
Al-Maidah verse 51 tells Muslims not to take Jews and the Christians as their allies/leaders.
Ahok has denied the allegations, saying that he talked about the verse because it was often used by his political competitors to gain support when campaigning against him during the election. (bbn)
