he blasphemy conviction against former Jakarta governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama continues to divide the nation with his supporters and detractors staging rallies in front of the North Jakarta District Court where the politician was scheduled to challenge his conviction.
The road in front of the court, Jl. Gajah Mada, became crowded with thousands of demonstrators and police officers from 8 a.m on Monday.
The crowd was dominated by members of anti-Ahok groups such as the Muslims Forum (FUI), the National Movement to Safeguard the Ulema's Fatwa (GNPF) and the 212 Brotherhood Alumni (PA), who came to the court dressed in white attire. They demanded the court reject Ahok’s case review petition.
Wearing red shirts, Ahok’s supporters, grouped under the National Unity Community banner, have demanded the court overturn the blasphemy conviction against Ahok, which they believe is unjust.
Ahok’s lawyer, Josefina A. Syukur, submitted a case review petition on Feb. 2 to the Supreme Court to challenge the North Jakarta District Court’s ruling that sentenced him to two years in prison for blasphemy last year. (vel/ahw)
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