Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, known as Ahok, has withdrawn his request for appeal of a two-year sentence for blasphemy. His wife, Veronica Tan, read his handwritten announcement May 23. The verdict and sentencing May 9 set off protests across Indonesia and from human rights and religious freedom bodies around the world.
Photo by Made Nagi/European Pressphoto Agency
“I know it’s not easy for you to accept this fact, much less me. But I have learned to forgive and accept all this, for the good of the nation and the state,” he wrote. An ethnic Chinese and Christian, Purnama was found guilty of blasphemy for quoting a verse from the Quran in a speech last September and telling voters that it could be misused by some to tell Muslims they should not vote for a non-Muslim candidate.
In his letter withdrawing the appeal request, he urged his supporters to trust in God. “Gusti ora sare (God does not sleep). Put your faith in the Lord, now and always. In my faith, I say that Lord will work out his plan for my life.”
His defense team said the case had become so intensely political that an appeal could result in civil unrest or the lengthening of the former governor’s sentence.
The two-year sentence was more severe than the prosecution’s request for a suspended sentence on a lesser charge of inciting hatred. It is not known if the prosecution will withdraw its appeal to lessen the higher sentence handed down by the court.
UN experts said in a statement Monday, the day before withdrawal of the appeal was announced: “Mr. Purnama’s blasphemy conviction and imprisonment will undermine freedom of religion or belief and freedom of speech in Indonesia… 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.”
