Jakarta’s Christian Governor, on Trial for Blasphemy, Is Accused of ‘Blaspheming’ Again

The Christian governor of Jakarta, on trial for “blasphemy,” is now being accused of further offending Muslims’ sensibilities after saying in court that his opponents were using a verse from the Qur’an in a bid to divide people.

Gov. Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, an ethnic-Chinese Christian who is running for re-election next February, appeared in court Tuesday to defend himself against allegations of blaspheming the Qur’an during a campaign speech in September. If convicted he could be sent to prison for up to five years.

In that September speech he reportedly told voters that they were being lied to by people misquoting a verse of the Qur’an to justify their argument that Muslims should not be ruled by non-Muslims.

 

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