House Speaker Lauds Peaceful Rally on November 4

Jakarta, 05 Safar 1438/05 November 2016 (MINA) – House Speaker Ade Komarudin has praised some 200 thousand Muslims for holding a peaceful rally in a show of support for the edict issued by the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) against Jakarta Governor Basuku Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok).

The edict was issued following an alleged case of blasphemy involving certain remarks made by the governor.

“They maintained security, public order and cleanliness around the venue of the demonstration. This is a very good example,” Antara quoted Ade as saying in a written statement released on Friday.

The November 4 rally showed that Islam in Indonesia is friendly, peaceful and seeks Rahmatan lil alamin (blessing for the universe), he stated.

At the rally, the demonstrators urged law enforcement agencies to take legal action against Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama for alleged blasphemous statement concerning the Holy Quran.

On Friday evening, Vice President Jusuf Kalla received representatives of the demonstrators at the Vice Presidential Office.

The vice president assured that Ahok will soon face firm legal action in the case.

“We have discussed (the case) with some colleagues representing the demonstrators (and have come to the conclusion that) Ahok will soon face firm legal action,” he assured.

Kalla made it clear that the legal process will be completed within two weeks.

The representatives of demonstrators included KH Bachtiar Nashir of the Arrahman Quranic Learning, Ustaz Zaitun Rasmin of Wahdah Islamiyah, and Ustaz Misbah of the Islamic Defenders Front.

The vice president was accompanied by chief of presidential staff Teten Masduki, Minister/Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, presidential spokesman Johan Budi, Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Saifuddin and Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)