Preacher Afifudin to stand trial<\/p>\n
SEMARANG: A Moslem preacher will soon be tried on charges of
\ninciting riots in Pekalongan, Central Java, in March, the town's
\ndistrict court chief said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Suharyono of the Pekalongan district court said he had
\nreceived dossiers on the preacher, Afifudin Musytari, and that
\nthe trial could begin any time.<\/p>\n
But court officials are considering trying him in Semarang for
\nsecurity reasons. \"I have written to the Central Java High Court
\nasking that preacher Afifudin be tried in Semarang,\" Suharyono
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
When police questioned the 46-year-old Afifudin in April in
\nSemarang, his supporters demonstrated and demanded his release.<\/p>\n
The riots erupted after local government officials removed
\nUnited Development Party (PPP) flags from the town's streets.
\nThey were replaced by Golkar flags.<\/p>\n
Afifudin, the principal of the Semarang's Holy Al-Furqon
\nMangkang Islamic boarding school and a staunch PPP supporter,
\nsaid he had not meant to insult Golkar or any ethnic group when
\nhe addressed a gathering before the riots.<\/p>\n
Angry supporters of the Moslem-oriented PPP set fire to a
\nstage to be used in a Golkar rally, featuring dangdut star Rhoma
\nIrama who had once been a PPP member.<\/p>\n
The riots lasted four days. About 60 shops belonging to ethnic
\nChinese were vandalized and looted. Several people were
\nreportedly injured. (har\/pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/preacher-afifudin-to-stand-trial-1447893297",
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