The release of a viral video that was deceptively edited out of context to make it look as if Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama was insulting the Holy Book of Quran has led to numerous Muslim leaders to verbally attack the governor and report him to the police. It also led one young man to try and actually attack Ahok with fireworks.
A 26-year-old man named Aburizal Fauzi was arrested by police Monday evening at around 7pm for shooting firecrackers at Ahok’s house on Jalan Taman Suropati in Menteng.
The head of public relations for the Jakarta Police, Awi Setiyono, confirmed the incident saying, “We secured the individual and confiscated fireball type fireworks from him,” as quoted by Tribunnews.
Two police officers posted at Ahok’s house first realized what was going on when when they heard the sound of fireworks going off. When they found the perpetrator he was aiming another firework at Ahok’s house.
After the culprit was secured, he was taken to the Menteng Police station for questioning. Police said that Aburizal confirmed that he was angry over Ahok’s alleged insults towards to Quran and the firework attack was intended to warn him not to do it again.
It is a lucky thing that Aburizal was only armed with fireworks. The fact that he was able to get that close to the governor’s house and set off fireworks is disturbing, but it is even more disturbing that a totally false accusation of religious hatred has been allowed to foster even more hatred like this.
