Regent in hot seat after defacing Koran<\/p>\n
Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Indramayu<\/p>\n
Hundreds of people staged a protest outside the Indramayu
\nLegislative Council on Monday, condemning the publishing of the
\nKoran with the picture of Indramayu Regent Irianto MS Syafiuddin
\ninside.<\/p>\n
The protesters, including students from various universities
\nclaiming to represent the Koran Saviors Forum, also staged a
\nprotest outside the regent's office.<\/p>\n
The 200 protesters demanded that the regent openly apologize
\nto all Muslim people in the country and the world, and that the
\nregental administration withdraw all copies of the Koran. They
\nalso insisted that the police and the prosecutor's office
\ninvestigate the case.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of posters and banners, condemning the regent and
\nother people suspected of being involved in the publishing of the
\nKoran, were paraded across the city.<\/p>\n
"We want the people of Indramayu to know that their leader has
\nmisused religion for political interests and power. The
\npublishing of the Koran is the lowest way to win the Indramayu
\nregental election.<\/p>\n
"The regent wants to be reelected using ways that insult
\nIslam. We can't let this happen. People should be cautious not to
\nelect such a leader," said Didin Wahyudin, the coordinator of the
\nprotest.<\/p>\n
More than 4,000 copies of the Koran, which has the regent's
\nphoto inside, were allegedly printed since the end of last year.<\/p>\n
The gold-covered Koran, features a photo of regent in a white
\nuniform and official insignia on the first page along with his
\nspeech, vision and signature.<\/p>\n
Indramayu Legislative Council Commission A chair Syarif Kasam
\nmet the protesters and promised the council would help
\ninvestigate the publishing of the Koran which has the picture of
\nthe regent, who is running for a second term in the upcoming
\nelection, scheduled for October.<\/p>\n
He supported the protesters' demands that the regent should
\napologize to Muslims. "The regent should apologize to show that
\nhe admits his wrongdoing. This kind of case should not be
\nignored. We'll call the regent to explain," Syarif said.<\/p>\n
Syarif said the council members would exercise their right to
\nprobe the case, considering that the Koran was allegedly
\npublished using the 2004 regental budget amounting to Rp 100
\nmillion (US$10,526).<\/p>\n
"The budget is to be used to improve people's welfare, not to
\nfor personal political interests. This is a fatal mistake and
\ncannot be ignored," he said.<\/p>\n
At the regent's office, the protesters met Indramayu regental
\nsecretary Heri Sujati, who promised to deliver the demands to the
\nregent. The regent himself was nowhere to be seen. He reportedly
\nleft the office upon learning of the incoming protesters.<\/p>\n
The protesters gave the administration five days to withdraw
\nthe Koran. "We think five days is enough. After all the copies of
\nthe Koran are withdraw, we ask the police or the prosecutor's
\noffice to immediately investigate the case," Didin said.<\/p>\n
The Koran's publication also received protests from Muslim
\nclerics, with some saying it was prohibited under Islam.<\/p>\n
Chief of Nahdlatul Ulama's lawmaking body, Adib Rofiudin Izza,
\ntold The Jakarta Post on Monday that the placement of someone's
\nphoto or picture in the Koran cannot be allowed.<\/p>\n
"Under the law it is haram. It undermines and insults the
\nKoran and Muslims. The move can't be justified, no matter what
\nthe reason," he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/regent-in-hot-seat-after-defacing-koran-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}