Throngs vow to vote for Muslim leaders in Jakarta election

Thousands have gathered at Jakarta's largest mosque to call on the faithful to vote for Muslim candidates in city and district elections.

Jakarta

More than 250,000 rallied in Indonesia's capital in the second protest organised by hardline Muslim groups against Jakarta's Christian governor. Source: AAP

Tens of thousands have gathered at the national mosque in Jakarta for mass prayers to urge Indonesians to vote for Muslims in elections being held across the country next week.

The crowds overflowed from Istiqlal Mosque in the heart of the capital into the surrounding streets on Saturday.
Jakarta police spokesman Argo Yuwono estimated the crowds at 60,000 to 70,000 people.

Clerics gave sermons calling on people to protect Islam and to vote for Muslim candidates.

Organisers decided to hold the gathering at the mosque after police banned a planned street rally by those opposing incumbent Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, better known by his Chinese nickname, "Ahok".

Purnama, an ethnic Chinese Christian, faces Agus Yudhoyono, a former army mayor and son of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and former academic and education minister Anies Baswedan - both Muslim.

Purnama leads in the opinion polls, but a three-way race means that he is unlikely to win outright on Wednesday, making a run-off unavoidable.

He is currently on trial for blasphemy over remarks he made in September that some Muslims considered insulting to the Koran, but is free to contest the election.

More than 100,000 conservative Muslims rallied on November 4 demanding his prosecution.

A second anti-Purnama rally on December 2 was attended by more than 300,000 and went peacefully.

The governor is accused of saying his opponents had used a verse from the Koran to deceive voters and prevent him from winning another term during a meeting with Jakarta residents.


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Source: AAP, AFP



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