Ahok's Care for Muslims 'Normal' as Governor, Prosecutor Says
20 December 2016 19:02 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta's inactive governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama returned to the North Jakarta District Court as defendant in the case of alleged blasphemy against the Quran today, December 20. The prosecutors, led by Ali Mukartono, rejected the defendant's not guilty plea against the alleged blasphemy charges.
In his memorandum of objection, Ahok denied that he had insulted Muslims or and the Quran's Surah Al-Maidah verse 51.
Ali underlined Ahok's statement that he cares about religious activities, especially those organized by Muslims. This was Ahok's main defense, and he said that it was impossible for him to insult Muslims.
"The defendant said that his policies have high regards for Muslims' religious activities, but as Governor of Jakarta, those policies—especially [implemented] using the use regional revenues and expenditures budget—are normal and commonly done by public officials anywhere," Ali read.
Last week, Ahok said that when he was governor of Jakarta he made plenty of policies that favor Muslims. One of them was to allow civil servants and temporary workers to leave work early in Ramadan to be home in time for breaking their fast, and practice the Ramadan prayer.
Ahok also said he built the Fatahillah mosque at the City Hall so workers can pray in between work. The mosque was built using the capital's budget. Ahok also built mosques in government apartment projects, gave cemetery keepers and mosque carers free pilgrimage trips to Mecca (Umrah), and created a policy that allows civil servants to be Hajj companion for the Jakarta pilgrim groups.
The prosecutors said those are things that a leader should serve to the people, thus his plea could not be used as a base that he had not intended to insult Islam and has to be rejected.
"This objection is part of the case materials and will be tried in the next hearing," Ali said.
The hearing will resume on December 27, 2016, when judges will decide whether the blasphemy trial will proceed.
LARISSA HUDA
