Of course, ulemas and people would oversee the legal process, from prosecution to trial in court.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) has reiterated its support for the police in handling the blasphemy case involving Al Zaytun Islamic boarding school leader Panji Gumilang after he was named a suspect in the case.

MUI's Deputy Secretary General for Law and Human Rights Ikhsan Abdullah noted in a statement obtained here, Wednesday, that ulemas and people will always support the National Police in resolving the case of alleged blasphemy involving Panji Gumilang.

"Of course, ulemas and people would oversee the legal process, from prosecution to trial in court," Abdullah remarked.

He applauded the police's hard work in protecting the people and maintaining public order after the case came under the spotlight.

"We give our highest appreciation to the National Police that have worked hard and earnestly in protecting the people and maintaining the conduciveness of society, which in recent months has been disturbed by Panji Gumilang," he said.

The police, on late Tuesday (August 1), named Gumilang as a suspect in the alleged blasphemy case.

"Based on the results of the case hearing process, we agreed to raise (the status) of PG (Panji Gumilang) to become a suspect," General Crimes Director of the Police Investigation Unit Brigadier General Pol Djuhamdhani Rahardjo Puro stated.

Panji Gumilang was questioned as a witness on Tuesday afternoon until 7:30 p.m. local time. Investigators then continued to grill him as a suspect.

The police have, so far, questioned 40 witnesses and 17 expert witnesses, including experts in criminology, sociology, and religion.

Gumilang, 77, is charged with multiple articles that carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

He had earlier been associated with a movement to establish an Islamic state in Indonesia.

The ongoing investigation centers around allegations that the boarding school in the West Java town of Indramayu allows men and women to pray together in the same row during Eid al-Fitr and permits a woman to serve as an Imam during congregational prayers.


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Translator: Fath P Mulya, Sri Haryati
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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