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Religious expert says Ahok's remarks blasphemous
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Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama enters the courtroom on Feb. 21 for another hearing in his blasphemy trial. (Kompas/POOL/Yuniadhi Agung)
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n another hearing in the blasphemy trial of Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, a Muslim scholar said on Tuesday that the Christian governor had insulted the Quran in his controversial remarks in the Thousand Islands regency.
Miftachul Akhyar, a religious expert from Nahdlatul Ulama’s central executive board, said Ahok misled people by saying people had been deceived by a Quranic verse.
The expert said there was nothing wrong with the Quranic verse, Surah Al Maidah 51, which tells Muslims not to appoint a non-Muslim leader.
In Surah Al Maidah 51, "leader" is referred to as aulia, which could be interpreted as a leader who is charge of the livelihoods of residents, Miftachul said.
"Aulia is a [...] person who can make and revoke policies," he told the judges.
When delivering a speech in front of residents in Thousand Islands regency late last year, Ahok said residents had been tricked by Surah Al Maidah.
Miftachul did not deny there were different interpretations of the word aulia, which he said, could also mean "best friend". (wit)
