Jakarta : An Indonesian court on Tuesday found Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, commonly known as Ahok, guilty of blasphemy in a landmark trial, seen as a test of the country’s religious tolerance, and sentenced him to two years in prison.
The judge at the North Jakarta District Court, while sentencing, noted that Ahok, a Chinese-ethnic Christian, did not show any remorse and said he was able to break the unity of Indonesia before his arrest was ordered, Efe news reported.
The punishment meted out to him is harsher than what the prosecution proposed, but is less than the maximum punishment of up to five years in prison as stipulated in the country’s legislation.
Ahok was charged in November for a speech where he quoted a verse from the Quran to prove to his supporters that there were no restrictions on Muslims voting for a non-Muslim politician. He was put to trial in December.
However, Ahok has denied the allegation claiming the video of his speech was doctored, and said he will appeal the sentence. –IANS
