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Jakarta's Chinese Christian Governor has told his blasphemy trial that he has been the target of racist and religious attacks since he won public office.
- Ahok says a verse in the Koran doesn't tell Muslims they can't vote for a Christian
- The verse is at the centre of Ahok's blasphemy trial
- Final round of Jakarta governor election in three weeks' time
During a late night court session in Jakarta, Governor "Ahok" Basuki said he has been targeted since he was elected as regent of the East Belitung islands in 2005.
Ahok stated in last night's hearing that a contentious verse in the Koran — Al Maidah 51 — does not tell Muslims they cannot vote for a Christian.
The verse states that Muslims and Christians should not be allies.
Moderate Muslim organisations, like Indonesia's biggest Muslim group Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), say the verse has been misinterpreted by religious conservatives.
Earlier this week NU supreme council secretary general Yahya Cholil Staquf told the ABC that the case against Ahok relied on out-of-date interpretations of the Koran.
"There are some very important elements in the teaching that really need to be contextualised to fit with modern times," he said.
Ahok told the court late last night that he was not criticising the Koran — but rather the interpretation of it by his critics.
He said that he was slandered.
"What I was talking about, what that it was not true that Al Maidah 51 says it is forbidden to choose [a Christian] governor," he said.
The verse is at the centre of the Governor's blasphemy trial, and is at the heart of the rhetoric of Ahok's chief detractor, hardline cleric Rizieq Shihab.
Mr Rizieq has encouraged huge rallies against the Governor, accusing him of "insulting Islam".
Ahok told the trial that Mr Rizieq is a liar.
The court also ruled yesterday that a contentious video recording of Ahok talking about Al Maidah 51 was inadmissible in the blasphemy trial because it was also a piece of evidence in another trial.
Other similar recording of the speech were allowed into evidence.
Last night's hearing was the final day of witness testimony in the governor's trial, which is running in the leadup to the city's gubernatorial elections.
Jakartans go to the polls in a run-off vote on April 19 and must choose between Ahok and a Muslim candidate, Anies Baswedan, who is supported by conservative groups like the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI).
A verdict in the blasphemy trial will not be handed down until after the election.
The case has been the focus of big protests each week — but yesterday there were only a handful of anti-Ahok protesters gathered outside.
An anti-Ahok rally last Friday was also noticeably smaller than previous protests against the governor.
Topics: courts-and-trials, law-crime-and-justice, religion-and-beliefs, elections, islam, christianity, indonesia, asia
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