UN urges Indonesia to free governor jailed for blasphemy

JAKARTA // The United Nations pressed Indonesia yesterday to release Jakarta’s jailed Christian governor and repeal blasphemy laws that it says undermine religious freedom in the Muslim-majority nation.

The call came as the family of Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, known as Ahok, unexpectedly withdrew an appeal against his conviction and two-year jail term for blasphemy, which had been submitted by his lawyers hours earlier.

Purnama was jailed this month for insulting the Quran, a shock decision that has stoked concern about rising religious intolerance in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country.

UN human rights experts urged Indonesia to free the 50-year-old and repeal the blasphemy laws, which critics say have been repeatedly used to target religious minorities in recent years. “Mr Purnama’s blasphemy conviction and imprisonment will undermine freedom of religion or belief and freedom of speech in Indonesia,” said the experts, who included special rapporteurs on freedom of religion and expression. “We urge the government to overturn Mr Purnama’s sentence on appeal or to extend to him whatever form of clemency may be available under Indonesian law so that he may be released from prison immediately.”

Lawyers for Purnama earlier filed documents for his appeal to a Jakarta court, but said later that the governor’s family asked for it not to go ahead. “The family have their own considerations and withdrew the appeal,” said lawyer Ronny Talapessy, adding that he could not disclose the reason.

Purnama’s sentence was widely criticised as too harsh after prosecutors had asked that he be given just two years’ probation.

Prosecutors in the case have already filed an appeal against the decision to jail Purnama.

The governor was found guilty of insulting Islam while campaigning for re-election. He offended Muslims after quoting a passage from the Quran, which he said his opponents were using to trick people into voting against him.

Some interpret the verse as meaning Muslims should not vote for non-Muslim leaders. His comments sparked major protests in Jakarta. Purnama had once been favourite to win last month’s Jakarta election but after the blasphemy protests, he went on to lose to a Muslim challenger.

Purnama’s imprisonment will undermine freedom of religion and speech, say experts