Indonesian Muslim groups urge parliament to dismiss Jakarta's governor

Record ID: 275633

  • Title: Indonesian Muslim groups urge parliament to dismiss Jakarta's governor
  • Date: 21st February 2017
  • Summary: JAKARTA, INDONESIA (FEBRUARY 21, 2017) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS MARCHING DOWN STREET TOWARDS PARLIAMENT HOUSE VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING TOWARDS PARLIAMENT, HOLDING FLAGS PROTESTERS GATHERING IN FRONT OF PARLIAMENT HOUSE VARIOUS OF FEMALE PROTESTERS WEARING RAINCOATS, HOLDING BANNERS, WAVING ARMS IN AIR AND SINGING (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) PROTESTER, IRIANTI, SAYING:
  • Embargoed: 7th March 2017 07:51
  • Keywords: Indonesia Muslim protest Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama governor blasphemy Purnama
  • Location: JAKARTA, INDONESIA
  • City: JAKARTA, INDONESIA
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
  • Reuters ID: LVA00164GQ539
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Thousands of Indonesian Muslims gathered in front of parliament house on Tuesday (February 21) calling for the Christian governor of Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, to be dismissed and convicted of blasphemy.
    Despite the rain, crowds of men and women, most of them members of conservative Muslim groups, gathered for the protest from the early morning.
    "Insha Allah (God willing) we will continue to protest until the blasphemer is put in jail and punished according to the applicable law and rules of Indonesia's government," said one protester, Irianti.
    Purnama, Jakarta's first ethnic Chinese and Christian leader, is on trial for insulting the Koran and in the midst of an election in which he hopes to win a second term.
    Islamist groups have held two big rallies against him since November raising concerns about the erosion of religious tolerance in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country.
    He has denied that he insulted the Koran, and has been allowed to remain in office while the court case is ongoing. He faces up to four years in prison if found guilty of blasphemy.
    His supporters say the charge against him is politically motivated.
    Last Wednesday (February 11), he stood against two Muslim candidates in a city governor election but none of them got enough votes to win outright.
    A second round is due in mid-April with Purnama competing against a former education minister, Anies Baswedan, who has appealed to the Muslim vote in the city of more than 10 million.
    The Jakarta election is widely seen as a proxy battle for the next presidential election in 2019.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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