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Police give go-ahead for large-scale rally on Dec. 2
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People march during a demonstration against Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama on Nov. 4.
(AP/Achmad Ibrahim)
P
olice have given permission to conservative Islamic groups to organize a large-scale demonstration against Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama on Friday.
In a press conference at the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) on Monday, Rizieq Shihab, Islam Defenders Front (FPI) leader and advisory chairman of the National Movement to Safeguard the Indonesian Ulema Council’s Fatwa (GNPF-MUI), said police agreed to guard the rally.
“Police and the GNPF-MUI agreed the rally will be conducted on Friday,” Rizieq said after meeting National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian at the MUI, as reported by tribunnews.com.
But, he said the GNPF-MUI, which earlier planned to conduct Friday prayers along Jl. MH. Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman during the rally, agreed to organize prayers at the National Monument (Monas) instead.
During the meeting, Tito forbade the group from praying along the streets, asking the group to pray at Istiqlal Grand Mosque.
(Read also: Police to ban use of Jakarta’s main roads for Dec. 2 rally)
The group, however, refused to pray at the mosque due to the huge number of protesters expected and finally agreed to hold Friday prayers at Monas, near the State Palace.
Tens of thousands of people, led by the group, staged a rally on Nov. 4, demanding the government prosecute Ahok on allegations of blasphemy.
Police have named Ahok a suspect in the case. (jun)
