- Title: Jakarta's former governor to drop appeal against jail term
- Date: 23rd May 2017
- Summary: JAKARTA, INDONESIA (RECENT - MAY 9, 2017) (REUTERS) PURNAMA SUPPORTER BANNER READING (Bahasa Indonesia): "FREE AHOK, AHOK DID NOT COMMIT BLASPHEMY" PURNAMA SUPPORTERS VARIOUS OF PURNAMA SUPPORTERS CRYING AND SHOUTING
- Embargoed: 6th June 2017 08:44
- Keywords: jail withdraw appeal Islam protests blasphemy sentence news conference
- Location: JAKARTA, INDONESIA
- City: JAKARTA, INDONESIA
- Country: Indonesia
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice
- Reuters ID: LVA0036I26DL1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: **PART AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING**
Jakarta's former governor, a Christian, will withdraw an appeal against his controversial jailing for insulting Islam in Muslim-majority Indonesia, to allow prosecutors to appeal the sentence and calm protests, his family and lawyers said on Tuesday (May 23).
Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, an ethnic Chinese popularly known as "Ahok", was jailed on May 9 for a longer-than-expected term in a ruling that critics fear will embolden hardline Islamist forces to challenge secularism in Indonesia.
At a news conference, his tearful wife, Veronica Tan, read out a letter in which Purnama thanked supporters and those who were praying for him, or sending flowers, letters and books. Purnama denied the blasphemy allegation but apologized for the comments.
There have been frequent protests by supporters of the former governor in cities across the world's largest Muslim-majority country and by Indonesian students and workers abroad, following the verdict. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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