Man allegedly beaten by Islamic hardliner mob for yelling “free Ahok” near them

Today is the fourth session of Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, which is being held at the Agriculture Ministry in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta. As usual, two sets of crowds gathered outside the ministry office today, one made up of Ahok supporters and the other made up of members of the National Movement to Safeguard the Indonesian Ulema Council’s Fatwa (GNPF-MUI), which is comprised of members of hardline Islamic groups such as the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) who wish to see Ahok imprisoned for allegedly committing blasphemy against Islam.

While tensions have been high between the two sets of supporters during previous trials, there hadn’t been any actual incidences of violence between them, until today.

An off duty security guard, whose identity was not disclosed by the police, was beaten by a mob of GNPF-MUI members outside the Agriculture Ministry today after he allegedly provoked them by shouting “free Ahok” right in the middle of their group.

“He went into [the crowd], and then he said what he said,” said Jakarta Metro Police Spokesman Argo Yuwono, as quoted by Okezone today.

Argo added that the victim also took photos of members of the GNPF-MUI crowd before he was assaulted. A video that is circulating online appears to show the moment after the beating, in which several non-violent members of the GNPF-MUI shielded and escorted the victim away and passed him on to the police for protection. It is evident, however, that some in the crowd still acted very aggressively towards the victim.

The victim reportedly received a cut above his eye from the alleged beating.

Jakarta Metro Police Deputy Chief, Brigadier General Suntana, said he suspects that the victim was under the influence of alcohol when he daringly provoked the GNPF-MUI crowd.

Masto, a street food seller and witness to the incident, said that he warned the victim not to shout “free Ahok” near the GNPF-MUI crowd.

“He said ‘free Ahok’, but I said ‘you shouldn’t say that here because here it’s all FPI.’ But he kept saying it and some people heard him and they beat him up,” Masto said.

The number of people who allegedly beat up the victim, as well as their identities, are not yet known. This incident is certainly not going to improve the GNPF-MUI’s reputation for being intolerant and disrespectful of other people’s opinions, because whether they were provoked or not, there is no excuse for resorting to violence.



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