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Guilty of blasphemy: An expected outcome
All of Indonesian society, but particularly Ahok’s supporters, should take a step back and discuss whether the entire pattern is just or unjust.
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All of Indonesian society, but particularly Ahok’s supporters, should take a step back and discuss whether the entire pattern is just or unjust. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
J
akarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama’s conviction and two-year prison sentence for blasphemy was the latest chapter in one of the most contentious and high-profile criminal cases in Indonesia’s recent memory.
The governor appealed his ruling, which came on the heels of an electoral defeat to continue serving as chief executive in the Indonesian capital.
With direct implications for the role of race and religion in Indonesian public life, the trial drew attention from all corners of the globe.
The fact that judges decided to convict on blasphemy charges under article 156a of the criminal code (KUHP), despite the fact that prosecutors dropped these charges greatly amplified the sense of astonishment.
