MUI chairman admits did not watch Ahok video

JAKARTA. Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Ma’ruf Amin testified during a hearing on Tuesday as part of Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama's trial, admitting that he did not watch the video that contained Ahok's alleged blasphemous statement.

“I only read the transcript. [Our] team watched the video,” Ma’ruf told the court. The hearing took place in an auditorium at the Ministry of Agriculture in Ragunan, South Jakarta.

He said the team then discussed the pressure from public who expected MUI to issue its stance related to Ahok’s speech in the Thousands Islands regency in September last year.

“We just discussed part of the statement. The team discussed the whole statement, but it was not relevant. So we just discussed the part [that was considered blasphemous],” he added.

In that part of the statement, Ahok said Muslims were being cheated by referencing surah Al Maidah verse 51 of the Quran in order to not elect a non-Muslim leader.

Ahok has said he meant that certain politicians used Quranic verses for their own political interests to get Muslim votes.

He has also asked for forgiveness, saying he did not intend to insult Islam. (Moses Ompusunggu)