Over a million Indonesians rally against Jakarta governor's blasphemy remarks



Around one million people rallied in central Jakarta on Friday to protest against Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnams' remarks defaming the Muslims' holy book, the Quran.

The governor, popularly known as Ahok, was accused of blasphemy on a remark citing a Quran verse last month.

Several civil organizations from Greater Jakarta, Banten and West Java of the largest Muslim country, have joined the peaceful protest.

One of the spokespersons of the protesting groups said, “The protest aims to urge police to act firmly and investigate Ahok as soon as possible.”

The spokesperson said that public sentiment and the people's emotions would be triggered if the police failed to take essential steps against the governor.

Ahok had made religious defamation in citing Surah al-Maidah, verse 51 of the Quran, during a visit to the regency of a Thousand Islands on Sept 28.

Indonesian Ulema Council and other civil organizations that gathered under the banner of the Islamic Defenders' Front (IDF) slammed him for his remarks.

The front called on the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) to investigate the issue after the march from the Istiqlal Mosque had been completed.

Governor Ahok is the first Chinese and Christian governor, who is known for his anti-Muslim comments fueling the Islamic sentiment in the country.

His blasphemous remarks could put his candidacy in a critical position as he planned for a re-election bid in February.

Turkiye Erdogan