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mid controversy over the recent return to office of Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, who is also standing trial for blasphemy, the country’s second-largest Islamic organization Muhammadiyah supports calls to suspend the Chinese-Indonesian and Christian governor from office.

Muhammadiyah, known for its moderate stance on minority groups, said Ahok’s suspension was important in order to eradicate the political brouhaha caused by the blasphemy case in recent months, which Muhammadiyah said had absorbed much of the government’s energy and threatened the country’s unity.

The group’s youth wing, PP Pemuda Muhammadiyah, met with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Monday to demand that the government alter its stance about Ahok returning to work after taking leave for his reelection campaign, and suspend the governor.

Jokowi’s party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), supported Ahok in the election.

Muhammadiyah secretary-general Abdul Mu’ti said the youth wing’s stance was in line with the official view of the organization.

“The problems on the legal status of the governor should not be prolonged. The move of PP Muhammadiyah is in line with that of Muhammadiyah leaders,” Mu’ti told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Ahok was named a suspect on Nov. 15 for allegedly insulting Islam in a speech quoting Surah Al Maidah 51 — a Quranic verse on the obligation of Muslims to vote for Muslim leaders — to defend himself against opponents who used the verse to attack his candidacy.

While on leave for the campaign period between October and February, he was also standing trial in the case.

According to Article 83 of the 2014 Regional Administrations Law, a regional head or deputy regional head who is charged with a crime that carries a minimum sentence of five years should be suspended. Ahok’s blasphemy case carries a maximum punishment of five years behind bars and he has yet to be suspended.

After meeting Jokowi at the State Palace, PP Muhammadiyah chairman Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak said he had asked the President to suspend Ahok in order to reduce political tensions after the election.

“PP Muhammadiyah is one of those that support Ahok’s suspension. This view is shared by Muhammadiyah leaders,” said Dahnil, who was among those that reported Ahok’s alleged blasphemy to the police.

Legal experts are divided over whether Ahok should be suspended, because he has been charged under Article 156 of the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum of four years’ imprisonment, and Article 156 (a) of the Criminal Code, carrying a maximum five years.

The Home Ministry has said it may have to wait until the reading of the sentence demand to see which article prosecutors used.

Dahnil said the President had told him he would take a firm stance once the State Palace received a legal opinion from the Supreme Court on Ahok’s case.

A number of organizations have also challenged the ministry’s decision not to suspend Ahok at the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN).

Dahnil said the President indicated he would comply with any ruling issued by the PTUN.

The Home Ministry’s legal affairs division head Widodo Sigit Pudjianto said the ministry had sent a letter to the Supreme Court asking for a legal opinion on whether it should suspend Ahok.

“We received the reply today. The Supreme Court is leaving it up to the ministry to handle the case. The court did not want to issue any legal opinion because a petition is currently underway at the PTUN,” Sigit told the Post.