Especially as the procedure of investigation was made with transparency and accountable."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Chairman of the Setara Institute Hendardi said naming Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) a suspect in a blasphemy case was a bad precedence for freedom of religion in the country.

"As law enforcement on alleged blasphemy has not been fully conducted in line with the principles of due process of law," Hendardi said here on Wednesday.

The police criminal investigation department (Bareskrim) announced its decision earlier on the day naming Ahok a suspect on charge of blasphemy.

Hendardi said Ahok, who is seeking reelection, had fallen into a political trap plotted by certain groups.

Ahok is potential to win the gubernatorial election in February, 2017 over two other rivals including Agus Harimuti Yudhoyono, son of former President Susilo Bambang Yufhoyono and former education minister Anies Baswedan.

All polls showed that Ahok is still favored to lead the capital city for another term.

Ahok, a double minority as a Christian and ethnic Chinese, said he had been asked to give up reelection bid.

Hendardi, however, said the decision of police investigators naming Ahok a suspect, deserved appreciation in a democratic country.

"Especially as the procedure of investigation was made with transparency and accountable," he said.

The polices decision naming Ahok a suspect, also showed that all allegations were false that President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) intervened in the case.

Jokowi, who is known close to Ahok, had been accused of protecting the Jakarta governor.

The president had repeatedly said he would not intervene in the Ahok case and would not give the governor protection.

The polices decision charging Ahok with blasphemy insulting Islam and the Koran came amid threat that a bigger rally would rock the city on Nov. 25.

A big rally , the biggest ever seen by the country already took place in the city earlier this month led by the Islam Defender Front (FPI) demanding Ahok arrest.

Hendardi said he hopes the polices decision would satisfy the Islamic protesters and would drop plan to stage another rally which is feared to trigger anarchy created by irresponsible people.

He said the polices decision would contribute to maintaining political stability and security.

"The decision would foil attempts by certain political groups involving themselves in the rally with agenda not related to demand of the masses," he said.

Hendardi said Ahok could still take part in the gubernatorial election unless the law gave him the final guilty verdict before the election on February, 2017.

Many Ahoks sympathizers regretted the police decision as Ahok would not have angered Muslims when he is needing their support in the election.
(Uu.H-ASG/O001)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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