Callistasia Anggun Wijaya, Jakarta – Islam Defenders Front (FPI) Jakarta branch secretary Novel Bamukmin testified against Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama in the fourth hearing of Ahok's blasphemy case at the North Jakarta District Court on Tuesday.

Novel said he had convinced the judges that Ahok had repeatedly committed blasphemy by using Surah Al Maidah 51, even before he delivered a speech during his working visit to Thousand Islands late September.

"Before giving the speech in Thousand Islands on Sept. 27, Ahok had brought up Surah Al Maidah 51 in his speech at the NasDem Party event on Sept. 21 and in another speech on March 30," Novel said after giving a statement in the hearing that took place at the Ministry of Agriculture's auditorium on Jl. RM Harsono, Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta.

Novel, who is also the advocacy head of the National Movement to Safeguard the Indonesian Ulema Council's Fatwa (GNPF-MUI), also cited Ahok's book titled "Changing Indonesia", which he deemed as blasphemous for commenting on Surah Al Maidah.

"In 2012, while he ran as a Jakarta deputy governor candidate, Ahok's tendency to insult Islam could also be seen in his statement, which said that the Constitution is above the 'Holy Verses'," he added.

For that reason, Novel said Ahok did not need to be warned first about his wrongdoing as previously questioned by Ahok's lawyers in their refutation. (jun)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/01/03/ahok-defamed-islam-repeatedly-fpi-leader.html