Jakarta – Members of the Indonesian Ulema Council, or MUI, blamed Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama for "uncivilized" behavior toward the council's chairman, Ma'ruf Amin, on Friday (03/02).

On Tuesday, a trial session against Ahok, who has been accused of blasphemy by several Muslim groups, including the MUI, saw him and his lawyers objecting to Ma'ruf's testimony.

Dozens of Muslim leaders gathered at the MUI headquarters in Central Jakarta on Friday, to condemn "arrogant" Ahok and praise "patient" Ma'ruf.

"We are angry as his patience was met with an insult," said Bachtiar Nasir, chairman of the Guardians of the Indonesian Ulema Council's Fatwas (GNPF-MUI).

In a joint statement released during the gathering, Muslim leaders accused Ahok of trying to undermine the credibility of the spiritual leader of the largest Indonesian Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).

"He showed a highly uncivilized demeanor and carelessness which went beyond the limits," said Anwar Abbas, secretary general of the MUI, which in October issued an edict against the governor with regard to the blasphemy case.

During Tuesday's trial session, Ahok and his lawyers objected to Ma'ruf's testimony, which they found contradicting the information they had in their possession.

Ma'ruf reportedly has close links with former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, whose son Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono is Ahok's competitor in the upcoming gubernatorial election.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/news/bachtiar-nasir-heating-latest-fray-ahok/