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Jakarta Post

Deputy gubernatorial candidate Djarot departs on ‘umrah’, will pray for peace

News Desk (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Mon, December 26, 2016

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Deputy gubernatorial candidate Djarot departs on ‘umrah’, will pray for peace Upbeat – Jakarta Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat (center) takes a picture with local residents during his campaign visit to Tegal Alur, Kalideres, Jakarta, on Dec.7. (Antara/Lucky R.)

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eputy gubernatorial candidate Djarot Saiful Hidayat, his wife and three daughters have departed to Saudi Arabia for the umrah (minor hajj pilgrimage), saying they will pray for peace in Indonesia.

“[To pray] for a peaceful, safe and calm Indonesia. For Jakarta too,” he told reporters on Sunday at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang as reported by kompas.com.

The deputy governor who is paired with governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, claimed he had no special prayers for the eight-day umrah related to the Jakarta gubernatorial election slated for Feb. 15, next year.

(Read also:Ahok's blasphemy trial moved to S. Jakarta)

However, Djarot’s wife Happy farida said she would pray in the holy land that the Ahok-Djarot pair, which was nominated by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the Golkar Party, Nasdem Party and Hanura Party, would win the election.

“[Praying for an Ahok-Djarot] win in one round […] and no more slander,” Happy said.

Ahok, a Christian of Chinese descent, is currently on trial at the North Jakarta District Court for alleged blasphemy related to a statement he made on a Quranic verse during an event in Thousand Islands regency in September.

Ahok has repeatedly asked for forgiveness, saying he did not intend to insult the Quran, the ulemas or Islam. (jun)

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