Crowd swells to 200,000 as Indonesian Muslims protest against Jakarta’s Christian governor
Some protesters held huge banners calling Ahok a blasphemer who should be jailed while others chanted and prayed
At least 200,000 conservative Muslims rallied in the Indonesian capital on Friday in the second major protest in a month against its minority Christian governor.
President Joko Widodo, who is a political ally of the Jakarta governor and angered hardliners by being out of the city during the first protest, went to the national monument to join Friday prayers with the sprawling crowd. At the same time the leader of the Islamic Defenders Front, a vigilante group, gave a fiery speech to the protest in which he asserted Indonesia would be peaceful if there was no blasphemy and other problems such as gays.
As a Muslim, I feel guilty if I refuse a demand to defend my religion. I believe Ahok insulted the holy Koran and it’s hurt us
Organisers had agreed to concentrate the protest around the vaulting monument in central Jakarta to reduce disruptions but the area quickly overflowed. Police say 22,000 officers and 5,000 soldiers can be called on to ensure the demonstration stays orderly. National Police spokesman Rikwanto, who goes by one name, said police estimated 200,000 people were on the streets of central Jakarta.
Separately, police said they had arrested eight people suspected of treason including Rahmawati, who is a younger sister of former President Megawati Sukarnoiputri, and a well-known musician turned politician Ahmad Dani. Two other people were arrested for alleged crimes under Indonesia’s law on electronic information and transactions.
A protest November 4 against Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, who is being prosecuted for blasphemy, attracted about 100,000 people. After nightfall, it turned violent, with one death and dozens injured. Police want Friday’s protest to disperse in the early afternoon following prayers.