Indonesia court refuses to drop blasphemy trial of Jakarta’s governor

A panel of judges rejected a call by lawyers defending Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama to strike down the case because it had violated the ethnic Chinese politician’s human rights and breached procedures

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Jakarta Governor Basuki ‘Ahok’ Tjahaja Purnama walks out of a courtroom. Photo: AP

Published: 4:07pm, 27 Dec 2016Updated: 4:07pm, 27 Dec 2016

An Indonesian court will proceed with a controversial blasphemy trial against Jakarta’s Christian governor, who is accused of insulting the Koran, a judge said on Tuesday, a case seen as a test of religious freedom in the Muslim-majority nation.

A panel of judges rejected a call by lawyers defending Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama to strike down the case because it had violated the ethnic Chinese politician’s human rights and breached procedures.

“The exception by the defendant will be considered and decided by the court after examination of all evidence. The defendant’s exception is not accepted,” Judge Abdul Rosyad said.

A tearful Purnama denied at his first hearing on December 13 that he had intended to insult the Koran while he was campaigning ahead of elections in February for the governorship of Jakarta, capital of the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation.

Jakarta Governor Basuki ‘Ahok’ Tjahaja Purnama listens to the judge inside a courtroom during his trial at North Jakarta District Court in Jakarta. Photo: AP

Hundreds of white-clad Muslim protesters chanted “Allahu Akbar” (God is greatest) outside the court in north Jakarta on Tuesday and called for the jailing of the governor, known by his nickname Ahok.