TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Jokowi orders police to probe religious defamation case: MUI
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
(From left) Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto , Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) chairman Ma’ruf Amin, Muhammadiyah chairman Haedar Nasir and Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saefuddin brief journalists after a meeting between President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and religious leaders at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday. (Antara/Widodo S. Jusuf)
I
ndonesian Ulema Council (MUI) chairman Ma’ruf Amin said on Tuesday that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo had ordered the National Police to investigate reports made by several religious organizations that claim Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama committed religious defamation.
“The President has said, he has ordered [the police] to proceed [with the investigation],” said Ma’ruf in Jakarta after meeting with President Jokowi at the Presidential Palace.
Jokowi on Tuesday invited some 30 religious leaders including Ma’ruf, chairman of the nation’s largest Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Said Aqil Siraj and chairman of the second-largest Islamic organization Muhammadiyah Haedar Nasir to the Presidential Palace to discuss the demonstration planned for Nov. 4.
During the meeting, Jokowi sought input from the religious leaders to prevent violence during the action organized by the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) and other Islamic organizations.
Ma’ruf also said the President had promised not intervene in the police’s investigation into the case, which began when the governor spoke about Surah al-Maidah, Verse 51 of the Quran, in a speech he made during a visit to Thousand Islands regency.
Ahok has offered an apology, saying he had no intention of insulting the Quran.
“We agree with the President that the issue about the remark in Thousand Islands has been blown out of proportion, out of context and has sparked uproar. That is why, it should be legally processed in a proportional manner,” said Ma’ruf as reported by tempo.co.
Meanwhile, Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto said that police investigators planned to summon a number of witnesses. (bbn)
