To this end, the PMII lauded the National Police's prompt arrest of Youtuber Muhammad Kasman, alias Muhammad Kace, who had allegedly insulted Islam and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
PMII is one of the wing organizations of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia's largest Muslim-based organization.
PMII General Chairman Muhammad Abdullah Syukri deemed it indispensable to fiercely crackdown on those committing criminal offenses that may threaten unity and harmony among members of interfaith communities.
Syukri appealed to members of interfaith communities in the country to avoid any narrative of hatred and lies, according to PMII's press statement that ANTARA quoted here, Thursday.
On the contrary, they should preserve the public sphere through constructive narrative that may help create a harmonious society, he affirmed.
Muhammad Kace was arrested at his hideout in Banjar Untal-Untal Hamlet of Ulang Village, Kuta Utara Sub-district, Badung District, Bali Province, on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. local time.
From the resort island, Kace was then taken to Jakarta on Wednesday afternoon for questioning, according to Chief of the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department Senior Commissioner Agus Andrianto.
Kace, a former Muslim who converted to Christianity, was arrested following a police probe into complaints filed by Muslims, who accused him of having repeatedly insulted Islam and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in videos that he uploaded on a YouTube channel.
He is also alleged to have intentionally insulted the teachings of Quran and changed the greeting for Muslims.
Kace's blasphemy case has triggered public outrage over the past few days, with the youth wing of Muhammadiyah, Pemuda Muhammadiyah (PM), urging the police to immediately take action against him.
Muhammadiyah is Indonesia's second-largest Muslim organization after the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).
Chairman of the PM-Central Jakarta chapter Akmil Faisal was quoted by CNN Indonesia on Wednesday as saying that he will organize a mass rally if the police did not arrest Kace.
According to CNN Indonesia, Faisal gave the police three days to arrest Kace and called on people to stay calm and continue to maintain unity among interfaith communities in the country.
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Translator: M.Zulfikar, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
