Koran teachers linked to the campaign of defeated Indonesian presidential challenger Prabowo Subianto instructed teenagers to take part in last month’s deadly riots in Jakarta , according to the country’s National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas Ham). Eight people were killed and hundreds more wounded in the riots on May 21-22, which were triggered by the re-election of incumbent President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo , who triumphed over rival Prabowo after securing 55.5 per cent of the vote. Many of the demonstrators were “young”, according to Komnas Ham, and took part in the protests because they were instructed by their religious teachers and friends. “Some of them really believed that there has been electoral fraud and that they needed to support their friends in their fight,” said Ahmad Taufan Damanik, chairman of the commission. Prabowo has lodged a legal challenge against the election result at Indonesia’s Constitutional Court, alleging widespread fraud and claiming Widodo should have been disqualified. Independent observers, however, said the elections were generally free and fair. Ahmad said he was “very worried” troubles could erupt again when the court delivers its verdict, which is expected on June 28. “Political tensions are rising,” he said. “I urge all parties to be committed to the court’s verdict. Please do not mobilise any more masses as it is prone to result in riots.” Some of the Koran teachers identified by Komnas Ham as inciting violence are affiliated with the Islamic Defenders Front, a radical Indonesian political organisation, while others “are close with” political parties that supported Prabowo’s candidacy, Ahmad said. They hail from West Java, Banten and around Jakarta. How Indonesia’s peaceful election protests descended into violent chaos “There have been efforts to shape public opinion since a while back that Prabowo is the one who will carry through the Muslim community’s aspirations,” Ahmad said. “[Prabowo’s supporters] do not trust Jokowi as they feel that he is too close with China while his party … is not close with Islam.” Widodo’s Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle is led by Megawati Sukarnoputri, a Muslim former president and daughter of the country’s founding father, Sukarno. Ahmad, who is investigating the riots, referred to a “network” spanning Jakarta, Banten, West Java and the south Sumatran cities of Lampung and Bangka Belitung that had mobilised protesters. “We don’t know who ordered the mobilisation,” he said. “But all those people who came to protest communicated with one another via Facebook and other social media platforms. “Many of them travelled on motorbikes in groups to Jakarta. They stayed in their friends’ homes and also in mosques around the Petamburan, Tanah Abang district.” Indonesia riots: ex-US serviceman in YouTube rant wrote 9/11 conspiracy books Some of the most intense rioting and arson last month occurred in Petamburan, where a police outpost was attacked in what is believed to have been an attempt to seize weapons and ammunition. Komnas Ham’s initial investigations also revealed efforts to spread the riots to other districts of Jakarta from the area directly outside the Elections Supervisory Agency building, where the initial protests had been held. Two weeks after the riots, some 70 people, including a number of teenagers, are still reportedly missing. “Some of them are currently being detained by police. We think some of them may be in hiding because their friends have been arrested,” Ahmad said. “We are investigating, cross checking and verifying their whereabouts.” Harun Rasyid, a 15-year-old, was among the eight people killed during the riots. According to reports in local media, he left home with a friend to watch the demonstrations and ended up getting shot. His death is being investigated by Komnas Ham.