ICC Note:
Muslims are calling for the leader of a hardline Islamic group to be charged with blasphemy. Rizieq Syihab is the leader of the Islamic Defender’s Front, the same organization that has coordinated the protests against the Christian governor of Jakarta, known as Ahok, and called for his imprisonment. The Muslim cleric has become increasingly critical of Christianity and even mocked it in recent speeches. A member of the Interfaith Student Forum said, “As Muslims we deeply regret [Syihab’s comment],” adding that the behavior of the cleric has damaged the reputations of Islam. A member of the Student Peace Institute commented, “Radicalism is like a virus, and if not eradicated it will undermine religious life in Indonesia.”
1/12/2017 Indonesia (UCA News) – Muslim activists have joined growing calls for a hardline Muslim cleric to be charged with blasphemy for insulting Christianity.
Rizieq Syihab, leader of hardline group the Islamic Defenders Front, is accused of mocking Christians following a sermon on Christmas Day in which he is reported to have said, “If God gave birth, then who would be the midwife?”
Angry Catholic students filed a blasphemy complaint the next day. The case has won the support of more than 140 lawyers and comes amid Jakarta’s Christian Governor Basuki “Ahok” Purnama blasphemy trial.
At a meeting on Jan. 9 at the Catholic student’s headquarters in Jakarta, Muslim members of the Interfaith Student Forum and Student Peace Institute, declared they also backed the blasphemy accusation against Syihab.
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