Indonesia Blasphemy Protest Swells to Crowd of 200,000 - Polidicks

[quote]At least 200,000 conservative Muslims rallied in the Indonesian capital on Friday in the second major protest in a month against its minority Christian governor who is being prosecuted for alleged blasphemy. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, who is a political ally of the Jakarta governor, Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, and angered hard-liners by being out of the city during the first protest, unexpectedly went to the national monument to join Friday prayers with the sprawling crowd. He called for protesters to disperse peacefully. They cheered and then broke into chants calling for Ahok's arrest, but later people were streaming peacefully out of the area into a main thoroughfare of the city. Organizers had agreed to concentrate the protest around the vaulting monument to reduce disruptions but the area quickly overflowed. National Police spokesman Rikwanto, who goes by one name, said police estimated 200,000 people were on the streets. Police say 22,000 officers and 5,000 soldiers can be called on to ensure the demonstration stays orderly. A protest Nov. 4 against Ahok, the first ethnic Chinese to be Jakarta governor and the first Christian in half a century, attracted about 100,000 people. After nightfall, it turned violent, with one death and dozens injured. Police want Friday's protest to disperse in the early afternoon following prayers. The crowds massed in the area of the national monument formed a sea of white that spilled into surrounding streets while gridlocked motorists sat on the sidewalks. Some held huge banners calling Ahok a blasphemer who should be jailed while others chanted and prayed. [B]The blasphemy controversy erupted in September when a video circulated online in which Ahok criticized detractors who argued the Quran prohibits Muslims from having a non-Muslim leader.[/B] It has challenged the image of Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, as practicing a moderate form of Islam and has shaken the government of Jokowi, who accused unnamed political actors of trying to undermine him. The son of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is vying against Ahok for Jakarta governor in elections set for February. [/quote] [URL="http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-indonesia-jakarta-blasphemy-protest-20161202-story.html"]Source[/URL] TL;DR the governor of Jakarta is a Christian and he is being protested for alleged "blasphemy" by hundreds of thousands of Muslims. This is happening in Indonesia, the bastion of truly moderate Islam that is so often touted by Liberals.

[QUOTE=Pantz Master;51465523]This is happening in Indonesia, the bastion of truly moderate Islam that is so often touted by Liberals.[/QUOTE] Albania, Tunisia, Bosnia and Azerbaijan are relatively moderate. If we are judging Islam through western eyes remember that the most secular Muslim societies on Earth are about as conservative as Poland or Romania.

[QUOTE=Daniel Smith;51465540]Albania, Tunisia, Bosnia and Azerbaijan are relatively moderate. If we are judging Islam through western eyes remember that the most secular Muslim societies on Earth are about as conservative as Poland or Romania.[/QUOTE] The post soviet states, Bosnia, and to a lesser extent Tunisia are exceptions to the rule. And I don't know what you're throwing into the "secular Muslim societies" bucket. [editline]2nd December 2016[/editline] Indonesia is a secular Muslim state. Are you saying Poles would do something like this?

Was told by a friend who is there for work that they were locked down in the hotel due to the protests being violent. What a surprise.

[QUOTE=Pantz Master;51465563]The post soviet states, Bosnia, and to a lesser extent Tunisia are exceptions to the rule. And I don't know what you're throwing into the "secular Muslim societies" bucket. [editline]2nd December 2016[/editline] Indonesia is a secular Muslim state. Are you saying Poles would do something like this?[/QUOTE] I mean secular culture, moderate.

[QUOTE=DogGunn;51465660]Was told by a friend who is there for work that they were locked down in the hotel due to the protests being violent. What a surprise.[/QUOTE] It seems like everywhere over the world protests are just violent these days regardless of race or religion. Americans rioting in the streets and breaking into stores, the Vancouver riots over the stanley cup where people were firebombing, its just ridiculous I guess though we live in a world now where the overwhelming majority of the population recognise/believe that peaceful protest is no longer satisfactory for change

[QUOTE=killerteacup;51465689]It seems like everywhere over the world protests are just violent these days regardless of race or religion. Americans rioting in the streets and breaking into stores, the Vancouver riots over the stanley cup where people were firebombing, its just ridiculous I guess though we live in a world now where the overwhelming majority of the population recognise/believe that peaceful protest is no longer satisfactory for change[/QUOTE] Funnily enough no. The majority of protests are in fact quite peaceful. You just never hear about them because "Peaceful protest successfully carried out" doesn't make for a good headline.

[QUOTE=TornadoAP;51465810]Funnily enough no. The majority of protests are in fact quite peaceful. You just never hear about them because "Peaceful protest successfully carried out" doesn't make for a good headline.[/QUOTE] Fair point! So really it should be a surprise that these protests turned violent in some way

This time,the protest end peacefully. the previous one,its literally chaotic shitstorm (4 november)

A bit of a back story to this. Ahok, the christian governor, stated to his followers to not be swayed by those who use the Qu'ran (specifically Al-Maidah verse 51) to turn against him. However, Buni Yani (who is labeled as the provocateur to this incident) transcribed the video of Ahok in a way that makes it seem like Ahok criticized the Qu'ran. So now some muslims are rustled by this. It is also important to note that most of the protesters are from outside of Jakarta, and in the first protest people were given money to be a part of it. There is also talk that all this protesting is backed by former president of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono whose son is running for Ahok's position.

I can't believe all of this started because of an "edited" speech video posted on facebook. Hopefully people will learn to confirm first before raging first.

[QUOTE=frdrckk;51466004]A bit of a back story to this. Ahok, the christian governor, stated to his followers to not be swayed by those who use the Qu'ran (specifically Al-Maidah verse 51) to turn against him. However, Buni Yani (who is labeled as the provocateur to this incident) transcribed the video of Ahok in a way that makes it seem like Ahok criticized the Qu'ran. So now some muslims are rustled by this. It is also important to note that most of the protesters are from outside of Jakarta, and in the first protest people were given money to be a part of it. There is also talk that all this protesting is backed by former president of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono whose son is running for Ahok's position.[/QUOTE] THIS is what im going to say [editline]3rd December 2016[/editline] [QUOTE=billy96;51466011]I can't believe all of this started because of an "edited" speech video posted on facebook. Hopefully people will learn to confirm first before raging first.[/QUOTE] Do you know what thing is faster than light? a dumbass sharing a hoax As long as it suit them,it will spread like wildfire

[QUOTE=frdrckk;51466004]A bit of a back story to this. Ahok, the christian governor, stated to his followers to not be swayed by those who use the Qu'ran (specifically Al-Maidah verse 51) to turn against him. However, Buni Yani (who is labeled as the provocateur to this incident) transcribed the video of Ahok in a way that makes it seem like Ahok criticized the Qu'ran. So now some muslims are rustled by this. It is also important to note that most of the protesters are from outside of Jakarta, and in the first protest people were given money to be a part of it. There is also talk that all this protesting is backed by former president of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono whose son is running for Ahok's position.[/QUOTE] So basically a bunch of people go protest and get upset following some "evidence" that is dubious at best. Why does this sound familiar?

It really shows the gigantic difference in cultural development and progress between somewhere like London where a Muslim mayor is in charge without issue for the most part and somewhere like Jakarta

This picture sums up the protest: [IMG]https://scontent-sit4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15037066_721591137988514_8997198479882818817_n.jpg?oh=7b6fbd5e53796416c7f7e3dfe8207bc1&oe=58F367F0[/IMG] Translate: If the perpetrator is non muslim,its called blasphemy. If the perpetrator is a muslim,then its called issue diversion. Truly a righteous answer with all of your blabbering,dumbass. We got too many hardlines in here

[QUOTE=Anteep;51467072]It really shows the gigantic difference in cultural development and progress between somewhere like London where a Muslim mayor is in charge without issue for the most part and somewhere like Jakarta[/QUOTE] To be fair, there were complaints in London too, even here on facepunch if I recall. As long as a politicians religion doesn't interfere with handling the state, it shouldn't matter

[QUOTE=da space core;51467408]To be fair, there were complaints in London too, even here on facepunch if I recall. As long as a politicians religion doesn't interfere with handling the state, it shouldn't matter[/QUOTE] Sure there were complaints. But there wasn't a 200,000 strong protest mob accusing him of blaspheming against Christianity. Stop making false equivalences here.

[QUOTE=da space core;51466018]So basically a bunch of people go protest and get upset following some "evidence" that is dubious at best. Why does this sound familiar?[/QUOTE] Because we truly, truly have entered the post Truth era.