Jakarta, Indonesia, Dec 16, 2016 / 10:49 am
The Christian governor of Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, could face stiff penalties if convicted of insulting the Quran – a charge he strongly denies.
Prosecutors in the Muslim-majority nation charged that he insulted Islam by misusing a particular Quranic verse that suggests Muslims should not be ruled by non-Muslims.
Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, who goes by the name Ahok, was in tears as he denied the allegations in court.
The governor insisted that his use of the verse was aimed at politicians who were misusing the verse against him. He cited his relationship with his adoptive parents, who are Muslim.