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Prosecutors say Ahok's refutation could lead to more trouble
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Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama is escorted by counterterrorism police officers as he leaves the North Jakarta District Court in Jakarta on Tuesday. Ahok is standing trial for blasphemy following his remark about a Quranic verse that could be interpreted as prohibiting Muslims from accepting non-Muslims as leaders. (Pool Photo via AP/Adek Berry)
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rosecutors have said that Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama’s refutation of his charges during his Dec. 13 hearing had the potential to heighten tension, as he claimed that Quranic verse al-Maidah 51 had often been used by politicians to sow discord among societal elements for political advantage.
“His statement has the potential to cause rifts among Indonesians, especially among Muslims. This will trigger new problems," prosecutor Ali Mukartono said during Ahok’s second hearing at the North Jakarta District Court on Tuesday.
During the first hearing on Dec.13, Ahok said he had not intended to insult the Quran. He further claimed that his speech, in which he cited verse al-Maidah 51 in front of residents of Thousand Islands on Sept. 27, alluded to certain politicians who had misused the verse to avoid fair competition during campaigning for the 2017 Jakarta election.
(Read also: Prosecutors urge judges to dismiss Ahok's refutation)
Ahok said he had been faced with verse Al Maidah 51 since he ran for the position of East Belitung regent in 2007, during which he said the verse was often used by politicians to divide people to urge them not vote for non-Muslims.
Responding to Ahok’s refutation, Ali said it was Ahok’s right not to heed verse Al Maidah 51 because he was not a Muslim. However, neither Ahok nor anybody else could outright claim that the Quranic verse could divide people or that it had been used by politicians to achieve their goals, he said. (ebf)
