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Expert claims Ahok's speech expressed criminal intent
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Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama attends a hearing in his blasphemy trial. (aktual.com/POOL/Tino Okatviano/ via JP)
I
n the blasphemy trial against Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, an expert has said he sees criminal intent in controversial remarks made by the governor in a speech in Thousand Islands regency last September.
Mudzakir, a criminal law expert with Indonesia Islamic University (UII), testified that Ahok had been fully aware of his comment about Surah Al Maidah 51, as he had conveyed a similar statement on at least three occasions: in Thousand Islands, at City Hall and at an event held by a political party.
"He intentionally made [blasphemous remarks] about Surah Al Maidah," Mudzakir said during the 11th hearing in the case on Tuesday.
(Read also: NU cleric blames Ahok for unnecessary polemic by quoting Quran)
While Ahok repeatedly said his statement referred to people who misuse the verse for certain political goals, Mudzakir said such a defense was unacceptable.
Ahok had not highlighted the false interpretation of the verse in his speech, but only Surah Al Maidah 51, which was deemed holy by Muslims, Mudzakir said.
His intention to commit blasphemy met the criminal element condition stipulated in Articles 156 and 156a of the Criminal Code, which carry a maximum prison sentence of four and five years, respectively, Mudzakir said.
Mudzakir was one of three witnesses testifying at Tuesday’s hearing, alongside Miftachul Ahyar, a religious expert from Nahdlatul Ulama’s central executive board, and Yunahar Ilyas from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI). (trw)
