Jakarta 'blasphemy' video uploader loses appeal

By Ainur Rohmah

TUBAN, Indonesia (AA) - An Indonesian court has refused a pretrial motion to absolve a man suspected of stirring up religious hatred by changing the text of a speech in which Jakarta's governor has been accused of blaspheming.

Supporters of the governor, Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, had reported Buni Yani to police for what they saw as an effort to change the transcript of a video uploaded to the Internet to provoke others into a reaction.

On Wednesday, the South Jakarta district court judge rejected Yani's request after considering testimony from witnesses and experts, both in defense and opposition.

"Rejecting entirely applicant's pretrial petition," Sutiyono, who like many Indonesians uses one name, ruled.

Last month, Yani -- a university lecturer -- was named a suspect for posting on his Facebook account an edited version of the video in which Ahok refers to the Quran's Surah Al Maidah 51.

Ahok's remarks were later considered blasphemous, and triggered uproar across Indonesia -- the world's most populous Muslim nation.

Since being accused of blasphemy, Ahok -- currently on trial -- has apologized for his original comment and maintained that he was calling for people not to be “deceived” by those using the chapter, not that the verse itself was insulting.

Ahok -- a Christian of Chinese descent -- is one of three candidates -- one a son of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono -- for the Feb. 15, 2017 gubernatorial election in which he hopes to be returned as governor.

“It is clear that the verse was not intended for the appointment of a head of an administration, especially in Indonesia, in which the head of an administration does not serve as a religious leader," Ahok earlier told the Jakarta court.

On Wednesday, the legal director of the Jakarta police, Commissioner Agus Rohmat, said the judge's decision shows that proceedings will be conducted based on official procedure.

"Thus, the investigation will continue," said Rohmat, adding that investigators will hand over Yani's case file to the prosecutor for trial.