Indonesia frees Christian politician jailed for blasphemy

Supporters of former Jakarta governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama gesture as they shout slogans in front of Mobile Police Brigade (Brimob) headquarters in Depok, south of Jakarta, January 24, 2019. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan

DEPOK, Indonesia (Reuters) – Indonesia on Thursday released the popular former governor of Jakarta from jail, after serving a reduced two-year sentence for blasphemy against Islam, a case that exposed deep religious divides in the world’s largest Muslim-majority country.

An ethnic Chinese Christian, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, 52, lost a 2017 bid to be re-elected governor over charges of insulting the Koran that brought hundreds of thousands of Muslim protesters to the streets, led by hardline Islamist groups.

A supporter of former Jakarta governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama wears a t-shirt of him near Mobile Police Brigade (Brimob) headquarters in Depok, south of Jakarta, January 24, 2019. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan

A supporter of former Jakarta governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama wears a t-shirt of him near Mobile Police Brigade (Brimob) headquarters in Depok, south of Jakarta, January 24, 2019. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan

“My dad’s a free man! Thank you everyone for the support,” his son, Nicholas Sean, said on social media app Instagram, alongside a selfie with his father.

Months of protests and a polarizing election preceded Purnama’s jailing in May 2017, raising concerns over the erosion of Indonesia’s long-held reputation for pluralism and tolerance, and the creeping influence of Islam in politics.

“(Purnama’s) prosecution showed non-Muslims and many Muslims that the freedoms of expression and religion in Indonesia are tenuous,” New York-based Human Rights Watch said.

Purnama’s troubles started with comments that political rivals were deceiving people by using a verse in the Koran to say Muslims should not be led by a non-Muslim.

Later, an incorrectly subtitled video of the comments went viral, eventually leading to his defeat at the polls and his imprisonment on charges of blasphemy.

As a figure with a no-nonsense reputation for cutting through red tape while in office, he remains popular with progressive Indonesians.

“We support him, not because of his religion or beliefs, but because of his good work,” said one of his Muslim supporters, Siti Afifah, who had waited outside the prison for his release.

But Ahok, as he is popularly known in Indonesia, is unlikely to re-enter politics any time soon, media say.

His representatives say he is considering launching a talk show and running his family’s oil trading business.

Last week, in a letter from behind bars, Purnama said he now wanted to be known by his initials “BTP”, and apologized to those hurt by his remarks when in office.

He also urged supporters to exercise their right to vote in April’s presidential election, which many fear may also be tainted by the religious and racial tension that marred the Jakarta governor race two years ago.

President Joko Widodo – once a steadfast ally of Purnama’s – is running for re-election against retired general Prabowo Subianto. Prabowo endorsed the massive protests against Purnama two years ago and backed the winning ticket in that election.

 

(Reporting by Ebrahim Harris in Depok, Ed Davies and Kanupriya Kapoor in Jakarta; Writing by Kanupriya Kapoor; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

Jakarta Gets First Christian Governor In 50 Years

Muslims throughout Indonesia are furious over the swearing in of Jakarta’s first Christian governor in nearly 50 years.

Basuki Tjahaja Purnama had been acting governor since Joko Widodo stepped aside to become the country’s President.

Indonesia has the world’s largest Muslim population and has been experiencing a wave of religious intolerance from Muslim hard liners angered that other religions have been given freedom to worship.  The new president has vowed to protect religious minorities.

“I don’t need to be approved by everyone,” Purnama told reporters. “The ones that deny me aren’t Jakartans. They come from Bekasi, Depok, Bogor, which are not in my territory.”

Purnama is also the first ethnic Chinese governor of Jakarta.  He is known as a transparent, no-nonsense leader who focuses on elimination of corruption in government.