TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Police question MUI leader over Ahok’s alleged defamation case
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Cooling down – President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo (left) shakes hands with Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) chairman Ma’ruf Amin (second from left) before their meeting at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, on Nov.1, to discuss growing tension triggered by Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama’s alleged blasphemous remarks. (Antara/Widodo S. Jusuf)
T
he National Police are set to question Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) leader Ma’ruf Amin as an expert witness in their investigation into religious blasphemy allegedly committed by Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama.
“We are scheduled to question the MUI chairman today [Monday],” National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Agus Rianto said at the Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) office in the police’s headquarters in South Jakarta.
He said Ma’ruf would be questioned at the MUI office in Menteng, Central Jakarta.
On Oct.11, the MUI concluded that Ahok had insulted both the Quran and ulemas in his statement, in which he cited Al Maidah verse 51, during a visit to Thousand Islands regency on Sept.27. This act had legal consequences, the council said.
The police questioned Islam Defenders Front (FPI) leader Habib Rizieq as an expert witness in Ahok’s blasphemy case on Thursday. As of Monday, the police had summoned 12 expert witnesses comprising religion, language and criminal law experts, in their investigation into the case.
The police have also questioned 13 witnesses, including Ahok, Thousand Islands residents, and people who have reported the governor to the police.
As of Monday afternoon, Ahok was still undergoing questioning at the Bareskrim office. Ahok voluntarily went to Bareskrim to clarify blasphemy accusations against him on Oct.28.
Agus said Ahok’s questioning on Monday was to complete the information related to his case. (ebf)
