Three Witnesses to Testify for Ahok at Blasphemy Trial Today
7 March 2017 10:10 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Basuki Tjahaja Purnama alias Ahok will today stand his blasphemy trial which will hear the testimony three witnesses for the defendant.
Ahok’s defense lawyer Humprey Djemat said the three witnesses are Analta Amier, Eko Cahyono and Bambang Waluyo.
Humprey elaborated that Analta is Ahok’s godbrother. Second witness Eko was Ahok’s running mate in Bangka Belitung regional election in 2007. The third witness Bambang is Golkar Party politician who was present during the Jakarta governor’s alleged blasphemous speech on the Seribu Islands on September 27 last year.
Humprey said Bambang knows Basuki well. He confirmed that the three witnesses will testify for his client over his speech and his view of Islam.
“Over their knowledge about what actually happened during Ahok’s speech on the Seribu Islands and his daily life, his views of Islam,” Humprey told Tempo in a phone interview on Tuesday, March 7, 2017.
Humprey went on to say that witness Eko Cahyono will testify over Quranic verses. “Including the surah al-Maida, verse 51 [used] to attack Ahok by rotten political elites,” he said.
Today will see the 13th hearing of the blasphemy trial against defendant Ahok. Last week’s session heard the testimony of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) leader Rizieq Syihab against the Jakarta governor.
DANANG FIRMANTO
