Jakarta – A website has started a campaign to promote Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama as next year's Nobel Peace Prize nominee, claiming the governor – at the moment embroiled in a blasphemy scandal which may have cost his re-election next year – is "an outstanding political phenomenon."

No Indonesian has ever been awarded the prestigious prize. Nobel nominees are kept a secret for 50 years, but anyone can submit a nomination.

The website ahokfornobel.com says the governor, known as a tough reformer since he started leading the capital of 10 million people in 2014, is "a clean politician who fights against corruption to make Jakarta a successful global city."

The Christian and ethnic-Chinese governor is also considered as "a symbol of tolerance, diversity, harmony and peace" in the world's largest Muslim-majority democracy.

Ahok, known for his no-nonsense style of leadership, assumed office in late 2014, but his rise to power has drawn widespread protests from Muslim hardliners.

He is currently seeking re-election in next year's Jakarta gubernatorial race, amid mounting protests from Muslim hardliners accusing him of blasphemy.

"As a non-Muslim leader, Ahok has become a constant target for Islamic hardliners and extremists who threaten his life and try to bring him down by all means," the website says.

"Despite these threats, Ahok continues bravely to fight for Jakarta and Indonesia, cracking down on corruption and graft and making Jakarta a better city to live in."

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/news/calls-ahok-nominated-nobel-peace-prize/