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Gus Dur video played in court to defend Ahok
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Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama (second left) listens to the testimony of Muslim cleric Miftachul Akhyar (right) during a hearing in his blasphemy trial at the North Jakarta District Court on Dec. 21. (Antara/POOL/M Agung Rajasa/via JP)
T
he legal counsel of Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama played a video of a speech delivered by late president Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid during Tuesday’s hearing to defend their client against blasphemy charges.
In the video, the revered pluralism and Islamic figure is seen with Ahok at a campaign event during the latter’s run for Bangka Belitung governor in 2007. At the time, Gus Dur told hundreds of people that Muslims were not allowed to have a non-Muslim figure as their leader, as stated in Al-Maidah, verse 51 of the Quran.
However, he said it could not be applied to an election and that people should vote for the best candidate, no matter their religion.
"Of course we don’t want a Christian to lead our prayers, but we can have a Christian governor," Gus Dur said, adding that elections should not be influenced by religious matters.
Presiding judge Dwiarso Budi Santiarto said the video was accepted as evidence and would be used in the judges’ consideration.
Ahok is standing trial over allegations he insulted Islam while making a speech. The governor told the judges he did not intend to insult the Quran in his remarks during his working visit to Thousand Islands regency on Sept. 27.
