akarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, who is campaigning for re-election next month, visited the Abdurrahman Wahid Soko Tunggal Islamic boarding school in Rawamangun, East Jakarta, on Monday.
Wearing his signature red checkered shirt, Ahok arrived at the school at 10 a.m. and met the school’s leader, Nuril Arifin Husein, popularly known as Gus Nuril, who was a close aide of late president Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid.
Gus Nuril welcomed Ahok and put a Balinese traditional hat on the incumbent governor.
“That’s a sign of love for [Ahok] from Bali,” Gus Nuril said, as reported by tribunnews.com.
(Read also: Hard for Ahok to bounce back: Expert)
Gus Nuril said Ahok’s visit was aimed at strengthening relationships across different faiths.
“Actually, boarding schools hope to enhance the relationship [with Ahok], he said.
Ahok, a Christian and Indonesian of Chinese descent, is currently on tried at the North Jakarta District Court over alleged blasphemy.
Police named Ahok a suspect last year after several massive rallies led by conservative groups, including the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), demanding that law enforcers legally process Ahok for blasphemy following a speech at an event in Thousand Islands regency in September. (jun)
Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.
Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!
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!
Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.