The Christian governor of Indonesia’s Jakarta province will go on trial for blasphemy, the AsiaNews service reports.Basuki Purnama Tjahaja, popularly known as “Ahok,” will be charged with insulting Islam, and could face up to five years in prison.
Police have reportedly questioned 40 witnesses about the charges against him, and decided that the evidence justified proceeding with the case.
Ahok—who also faces popular resentment because he is of Indonesia’s Chinese ethnic minority—drew angry responses at a political rally, when he quoted a passage from the Qu’ran, warning against acceptance of leadership by non-Muslims, and asked Islamic leaders not to use the passage against him.