"Page 48 could be categorized as a crime of blasphemy based on a Criminal Act."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama, the publisher of a book containing insults about the Prophet Mohammad, burned hundreds of copies of the book on Wednesday following protests from Islamic organizations.

The burning of the book, entitled "5 KOTA PALING BERPENGARUH DI DUNIA" (five most influential cities in the world), was carried out in front of the Gramedia Pustaka Utama compound in Palmerah at 2.10pm after the publisher had earlier apologized and withdrew the book from circulation.

The burning of the book was witnessed by Ma`ruf Amin, the chairman of the Fatwa Commission of the Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI) and three other MUI executives, as well as the president director of Gramedia Pustaka Utama, Wandi S Brata.

Irwan Arsidi, a member of the Islam Defenders` Front (FPI), had earlier reported the publisher`s president director, editor P Herdian and translator Hendri Tanaja, to the police for having translated, published and distributed the book he considered to contain insults about the Prophet Mohammad.

Habib Novel, the secretary of the FPI Jakarta chapter who accompanied Irwan when reporting the case to the Jakarta Metropolitan Police on June 11, said on page 24 there were insulting words describing the Prophet Mohammad as if he was a pirate, a robber and had conducted murders to conquer Madina.

He said the story about the Prophet Mohammad was far from the facts and based on it he had reported the publisher to the police for blasphemy.

FPI spokesman Munarman, at the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Headquarters on Monday, said the book, written by Douglas James Wilson, contained words that insult the Prophet Muhammad as a symbol of Islamic teachings.

"The words on page 48 could be categorized as a crime of blasphemy based on a Criminal Act (KUHP)," he said.

He hoped the police would immediately follow up the case by questioning the writer, editor, publisher and parties involved in the production of the book.

He said MUI had also asked the publisher to withdraw the book from circulation.
(T.ANT-009/H-YH/INE/KR-BSR)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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