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Up to 600,000 to join Jakarta rally on Friday: Official
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Muslim protesters march during a demonstration in Jakarta on Nov. 4. About 600,000 people are predicted to join a follow-up rally on Friday. (AP/Achmad Ibrahim)
U
p to 600,000 people are predicted to join a rally organized by Islamic groups against Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama at the National Monument (Monas) park on Friday.
“Between 500,000 and 600,000 people will perform Friday prayers at Monas,” the park’s management head, Sabdo Kristanto, said on Monday, as reported by tribunnews.com.
The rally, which is organized by the National Movement to Safeguard the Indonesian Ulema Council’s Fatwa (GNPF-MUI), will start at 8 a.m. and end at 1 p.m. with a Friday sermon by MUI chairman Makruf Amin.
(Read also: Police give go-ahead for large-scale rally on Dec. 2)
On Monday morning, GNPF-MUI leader Rizieq Shihab, who is also the leader of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), met National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian to discuss the planned rally.
Police agreed to allow and guard the rally after the group agreed not to conduct Friday prayers along the thoroughfares of Jl. MH. Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman.
On Nov. 4, GNPF-MUI led a rally joined by tens of thousands of people, demanding Ahok be prosecuted over blasphemy.
Police then named Ahok a suspect in a blasphemy case. (jun)
