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Ahok tells Amien not to use mosques for political activities
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National Mandate Party (PAN) honorary council chairman Amien Rais speaks at an event in Jakarta.
(tribunnews.com/Dany Permana)
J
akarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama has told National Mandate Party (PAN) patron Amien Rais not to use mosques to convey political messages to the public.
“Ask Amien Rais. Has he read a call from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) saying that preaching in mosques should not be used for political purposes?” said Ahok in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Ahok made the statement in response to Amien’s Idul Adha’s sermon, in which he urged Jakartans not to vote for the governor who had evicted many of the city’s poor. Amin delivered his Idul Adha sermon at a hospital mosque in North Jakarta.
“Vote for the governor, who is honest and loves the poor people. Don’t vote for a governor who regularly evicts [poor residents] and serves the interest of capitalists,” said Amien, who acknowledged after the sermon that he was referring to Ahok.
Chairman of the MUI Ma’ruf Amin previously called on preachers not to use mosques to convey political messages or attack certain political figures.
Ahok also criticized Amien’s call for PAN to hold an extraordinary congress if the party supported Ahok, who has been endorsed by the Golkar Party, NasDem Party and Hanura Party for the 2017 gubernatorial election.
With only two seats in the Jakarta Legislative Council, PAN is the smallest party in the capital. “It seems as if Amien is the owner of PAN,” Ahok added. (bbn)
