TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Three expert witnesses will testify in favor of Basuki Tjahaja Purnama alias Ahok in blasphemy trial today at 10 pm Jakarta time.

Ahok’s defense lawyer Humphrey R. Djemat told Tempo on Monday, March 20, that the three witnesses are KH Ahmad Ishomuddin, a member of Rais Syuriah (Consultative Board) of the Nahdlatul Ulama, Rahayu Surtiati, Professor of Linguistics at the Cultural Science Department of the University of Indonesia (UI) and Djisman Samosir, a lecturer at the Faculty of Law of the Parahyangan Catholic University.

Read: Lawyer to Bring NU Cleric as Witness in Ahok`s Blasphemy Trial

KH Amhad Ishomuiddin, a.k.a. Kiai Ishom, is an observer of pluralism and culture. The Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) website Nu.or.id cited his article titled "Bukan Agama Kebencian" (literally translated as Not the Religion of Hate) written on his Facebook account on October 13, 2016.

Kiai Ishom explained that the fire of anger engulfing one’s heart would be difficult to put out by others who have different religious interpretation and expression of plurality. Religious zealots who claim a monopoly on truth have been unwittingly spreading their hatred virus to others via social media the same way as fire burns up wood.

He said that Islam does allow people to be angry at the right time and place. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also expressed his anger when his beloved friends fight against each other over an interpretation of a Quranic verse.

“It’s [the right way] to get angry, a controlled anger, not the wrong anger i.e. anger that is abusive, hateful, libelous, even anger that destroys the goodwill of others,” he said.

YOHANES PASKALIS | DWI A