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View all search resultsJokowi tells police to probe musician for presidential insult
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President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo (left) shakes hand with Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) chairman Ma’ruf Amin (second left) before their meeting at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Nov.1, to discuss the growing tension triggered by inactive Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama’s alleged blasphemous remarks. (Antara/Widodo S. Jusuf)
P
resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has instructed the National Police to investigate musician Ahmad Dhani for allegedly insulting the President, as a symbol of the state, in speech during a mass rally on Nov. 4, attended by more than 100,000 people.
“I have been talking about hate speech [earlier] and to insult a symbol of the state, this should be followed up [by the police],” said Jokowi after meeting with executives of Muhammadiyah in Jakarta on Tuesday as reported by tribunnews.com.
Previously, Dhani was reported by supporters of Jokowi for allegedly insulting the President. At his speech during the mass rally, Dhani criticized Jokowi for not respecting ulemas because he refused to meet them during the rally.
In part of his speech, Dhani made references to animals when speaking about the President, which was considered as an insult by Jokowi supporters.
“If there is legal basis, it should be followed up on,” said Jokowi, when he was asked to comment on the report filed by his supporters—Projo (Pro Jokowi) and Laskar Rakyat Jokowi (People Troops for Jokowi)—to Jakarta Police against Dhani.
If Dhani is found guilty, he could face jail time of between six months and a year.
Projo chairman Budi Arie Setiadi told police to immediately undertake legal proceedings against the musician as his harsh words were exceptionally insulting to the President.
“We fully support the legal process [against Dhani],” said Budi, adding that “insults to the President have caused our democracy to lose its soul.” (bbn)
