REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Vice chairman of National Movement to Defend the Indonesian Council of Ulama's Fatwa (GNPF MUI) Muhammad Zaitun Rasmin is optimistic the case of alleged religious blasphemy will be brought into trial. GNPF MUI pledged to oversee the case until Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) sentenced in accordance with law. "May the case not sacked during the process," he said.
Zaitun appreciates the National Police Criminal Investigation department's (Bareskrim) decision for naming Ahok as suspect and prevent the suspect to leave the country. "We hope in the near future, Ahok will be arrested so he would not run away nor repeating the same mistake," he said to Republika.co.id on Wednesday.
So far, GNPF MUI have not decide about the discourse of demonstration on November 25. "Public, especially Muslims, will surely oversee the case so it could immediately brought to court and the suspect got maximum penalty," he remarked.
Previously, the police have received 14 reports related to the case of alleged blasphemy regarding the Holy Quran surah Al Maidah verse 51. Ahok allegedly insulting the verse and clerics on his official visit to Seribu Islands on September 27.
The police have questioned 29 witnesses and interviewed 39 expert witnesses from seven areas of expertise, namely criminal law expert, bahasa expert, theologians, psychologists, anthropologists, digital forensic experts and legal drafting expert.
During the open case screening, there were dissenting opinion among experts on whether there is an element of intent to insult religion. "The same thing happened to the 27 member of investigation team," Chief of Bareskrim Commissioner General Ari Dono Sukamto said earlier on Wednesday.
Also read: Police name Ahok as suspect in religious blasphemy case
Therefore, the investigation team decided to settle the case in an open court. Consequently, the process of investigation will be upgraded to investigation stage. On Wednesday afternoon, Bareskrim issued warrants for further investigation and the investigation team will carry out investigation and forward the case to the public prosecutor as soon as possible.
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