Regent in hot seat after defacing Koran

Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Indramayu

Hundreds of people staged a protest outside the Indramayu Legislative Council on Monday, condemning the publishing of the Koran with the picture of Indramayu Regent Irianto MS Syafiuddin inside.

The protesters, including students from various universities claiming to represent the Koran Saviors Forum, also staged a protest outside the regent's office.

The 200 protesters demanded that the regent openly apologize to all Muslim people in the country and the world, and that the regental administration withdraw all copies of the Koran. They also insisted that the police and the prosecutor's office investigate the case.

Hundreds of posters and banners, condemning the regent and other people suspected of being involved in the publishing of the Koran, were paraded across the city.

"We want the people of Indramayu to know that their leader has misused religion for political interests and power. The publishing of the Koran is the lowest way to win the Indramayu regental election.

"The regent wants to be reelected using ways that insult Islam. We can't let this happen. People should be cautious not to elect such a leader," said Didin Wahyudin, the coordinator of the protest.

More than 4,000 copies of the Koran, which has the regent's photo inside, were allegedly printed since the end of last year.

The gold-covered Koran, features a photo of regent in a white uniform and official insignia on the first page along with his speech, vision and signature.

Indramayu Legislative Council Commission A chair Syarif Kasam met the protesters and promised the council would help investigate the publishing of the Koran which has the picture of the regent, who is running for a second term in the upcoming election, scheduled for October.

He supported the protesters' demands that the regent should apologize to Muslims. "The regent should apologize to show that he admits his wrongdoing. This kind of case should not be ignored. We'll call the regent to explain," Syarif said.

Syarif said the council members would exercise their right to probe the case, considering that the Koran was allegedly published using the 2004 regental budget amounting to Rp 100 million (US$10,526).

"The budget is to be used to improve people's welfare, not to for personal political interests. This is a fatal mistake and cannot be ignored," he said.

At the regent's office, the protesters met Indramayu regental secretary Heri Sujati, who promised to deliver the demands to the regent. The regent himself was nowhere to be seen. He reportedly left the office upon learning of the incoming protesters.

The protesters gave the administration five days to withdraw the Koran. "We think five days is enough. After all the copies of the Koran are withdraw, we ask the police or the prosecutor's office to immediately investigate the case," Didin said.

The Koran's publication also received protests from Muslim clerics, with some saying it was prohibited under Islam.

Chief of Nahdlatul Ulama's lawmaking body, Adib Rofiudin Izza, told The Jakarta Post on Monday that the placement of someone's photo or picture in the Koran cannot be allowed.

"Under the law it is haram. It undermines and insults the Koran and Muslims. The move can't be justified, no matter what the reason," he said.