Man jailed for blasphemy

TASIKMALAYA, West Java: Buki Sahidin, a 53-year-old resident of Tawangbanteng village, Indihiang, has been sentenced to six years and eight months imprisonment for blasphemy.

The Tasikmalaya district court said Saturday that Buki had been found guilty of blasphemy and creating community unrest.

Antara reported that people in the tightly-guarded court room had applauded vigorously when the presiding judge delivered the sentence.

Buki has appealed against the sentence.

Buki was accused of telling locals between 1993 and 1996 that he had had revelations directly from God, and that many ulemas had reneged on the teachings of the Holy Koran. (swe)