Jakarta Governor questioned by police over Quran insult allegations

(AhlulBayt News Agency) - The Governor of Jakarta is being questioned by police over blasphemy linked to last week's violent protests in Indonesia's capital.

Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, also known as Ahok, arrived at the national police headquarters this morning waving to a large media pack as he entered the building.

Police have promised a fast and transparent investigation into charges the Christian, ethnic Chinese Governor insulted the holy Koran when questioning his critics last month.

On Friday, a massive street protest attracting 150,000 strong crowd turned violent as dark fell with 350 people injured and one elderly man dying of an asthma attack.

The protesters, led by hardline groups, accused the Governor of blasphemy and want him jailed.

But supporters of Ahok say the allegations are politically motivated ahead of a gubernatorial election in February next year.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo cancelled his visit to Australia on Saturday because of the unrest, but via video conference he told a crowd of Indonesian nationals who had gathered for a concert in Sydney that the situation was now safe.

Police said they had already interviewed 12 experts and 13 witnesses in the case, which will be complete within a fortnight.

Ahok was elevated to the Governor's position after Mr Widodo was elected as President in 2014.

He will come up against the son of former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, and former education minister Anies Baswedan in next year's poll.




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