Governor to summon regent over Koran controversy<\/p>\n
Nana Rukmana and Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung\/Indramayu<\/p>\n
West Java Governor Danny Setiawan said on Tuesday he would summon
\nIndramayu Regent Irianto M.S. Syafiuddin to explain why a Koran
\nhad been published with Irianto's picture inside.<\/p>\n
However, Irianto could only be asked to clarify the matter
\nonce he had received an official letter of permission from
\nDirector General of Regional Autonomy Progo Nurdjaman, Danny
\nsaid. Progo has already instructed Danny to question Irianto over
\nthe matter.<\/p>\n
Danny said the controversy of over the holy book -- that has
\nthe regent's picture on the first page as well as a short blurb
\ncampaigning for his reelection in the next 2005-2010 term --
\nbegan because of a printing error.<\/p>\n
\"I think the regent did not suspect that the printing mistake
\nwould have had such a great impact,\" he said after the opening of
\nthe Ninth Indonesia-Malaysia Cultural Symposium at Bandung's
\nPadjadjaran University.<\/p>\n
Danny said the regent's picture as well as his vision and
\nmission statement were originally intended to go on a bookmark
\nattached to the Koran but a printing mixup meant it ran on the
\nfirst page instead.<\/p>\n
The public outcry the move sparked peaked on Monday, with
\nhundreds of people staging protests outside the Indramayu
\nLegislative Council and the regent's office, demanding the regent
\napologize to all Muslims and his administration withdraw all of
\nthe more than 4,000 copies of the Koran in circulation. They also
\ncalled for the police and the prosecutor's office to investigate
\nthe case.<\/p>\n
The use of the Koran for the regent's political campaign was
\nalso condemned by ulema, who said the act was haram, or
\nprohibited in Islam.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Indramayu Election Commission Committee head Kurdi
\nSutisna said the body had no authority to stop the regent from
\nrunning for a second term in October.<\/p>\n
\"The only (body) with the authority to stop someone from
\nrunning for regent is the courts ... So, as long as there is no
\ncourt decision on the matter, anyone, including the Indramayu
\nregent, can take part,\" Kurdi said.<\/p>\n
Registrations for candidates wanting to run for regent in the
\npoll would be opened in July, he said.<\/p>\n
A tired-looking Irianto said late on Monday that he was
\nwilling to step down from his post if the people no longer wanted
\nhim. He said he currently had no plans to contest the October
\nvote.<\/p>\n
\"No need to wait (people), if you don't support me any more,
\nI'm ready to step down as regent right now,\" said Irianto, whose
\nterm in office will end on Dec. 11.<\/p>\n
Irianto said he sincerely regretted the incident and had
\napologized on many different occasions about it to Indramayu
\nresidents and to Muslims generally.<\/p>\n
\"But if that's not enough, and people no longer want me, I'm
\nready to resign,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/governor-to-summon-regent-over-koran-controversy-1447893297",
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