Jakarta – Police have urged hardline Muslim groups to call off another protest rally against Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, as legal proceedings in the blasphemy case against him are already on track.

Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. M. Iriawan said the groups involved in the anti-Ahok protest rally, which is planned for Nov. 25, must refrain from proceeding with it.

Protesters previously took to the streets of the capital on Oct. 21 and Nov. 4, to demand that police investigate blasphemy allegations against the governor.

"I hope everyone can refrain from staging another protest rally since the legal process is already in motion. Regarding the information on the rally, planned for Nov. 25, that was spread on social media, I urge people to cancel," Iriawan told reporters at the Jakarta Police headquarters in South Jakarta on Wednesday (16/11).

Demands by protesters during the two previous rallies that Ahok should be prosecuted have been met, as the National Police's criminal investigation unit (Bareskrim) is probing the allegations against him, Iriawan said.

He also called on supporters of Ahok to not hold any rallies to protest Wednesday's decision by police in the case.

Police named Ahok a suspect over comments he made in a speech to residents of Pramuka Island in Jakarta's Thousand Islands district two months ago.

In video footage of the speech, Ahok says nobody should manipulate verses from the Koran for political gain.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/news/police-call-muslim-groups-cancel-nov-25-anti-ahok-rally/