TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Indonesians in Switzerland hold solidarity act for Ahok, nation's unity
Change Size
Some 200 Indonesians in Switzerland gather around the Broken Chair Monument in front of the United Nations office in Geneva on Tuesday following a worldwide solidarity movement sparked by the detainment of non-active Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama for blasphemy. (JP/Courtesy of Mardo S.)
A
round 200 Indonesian in Switzerland have gathered in front of the United Nation's office in Geneva to give morale support to the Indonesian government and non-active Jakarta governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, who has been sentenced to two years for blasphemy.
The participants lit candles, read poems, sang national anthems and carried out mass interfaith prayers on Tuesday, a week after Ahok was detained.
"Although we live abroad, we are very concerned about the situation in Jakarta and Indonesia. We support President Joko Widodo in efforts to keep the nation united," said Widiasih, who took part in the event.
The participants came from several cities in the country, such as Geneva, Bern and Zurich and other cities on the border of France. “Similar actions will be carried out in other big cities in Switzerland," Widiasih said in a press statement.
She said their concerns were based on recent uproar following the divisive Jakarta gubernatorial election that had been marred with racial and religious sentiment.
Ahok, a Christian of Chinese ethnicity, was jailed for commenting on a verse in the Quran, which he believed had been used by his political opponents to influence voters to vote against him.
"We hope Pak Ahok will get fair trial during his appeal [of the court's verdict]. We hope the court can make an objective decision without any pressure from any parties so that he can be freed," Widiasih said. (fac)
