Tags: AS | Indonesia | Blasphemy

Jakarta Governor Given 2-year Prison Sentence for Blasphemy

Jakarta Governor Given 2-year Prison Sentence for Blasphemy

Tuesday, 09 May 2017 12:41 AM EDT

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — An Indonesian court on Tuesday sentenced the minority Christian governor of Jakarta to two years in prison for blaspheming the Quran at a trial that undermined the country's reputation for practicing a moderate form of Islam.

The five-judge panel said Gov. Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama was "convincingly proven guilty of blasphemy" and ordered his arrest. However Ahok immediately announced he would appeal the guilty verdict and sentence.

The lead judge said the trial was a purely criminal one and the court disagreed that there were political aspects to the case.

The blasphemy accusation against Ahok was a decisive factor in his defeat in last month's election for Jakarta governor. Hard-line Islamic groups said it would be a sin for Muslims to vote for a non-Muslim.

The two year prison sentence was a surprise outcome. Prosecutors had recommended a two-year suspended prison sentence.

The maximum sentence for blasphemy in Muslim-majority Indonesia is five years in prison.

© Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


Asia
An Indonesian court on Tuesday sentenced the minority Christian governor of Jakarta to two years in prison for blaspheming the Quran at a trial that undermined the country's reputation for practicing a moderate form of Islam.The five-judge panel said Gov. Basuki "Ahok"...
AS,Indonesia,Blasphemy
158
2017-41-09
Tuesday, 09 May 2017 12:41 AM
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