Thousands of white-clad Muslims streamed towards a central Jakarta park on Friday, gathering for a rally expected to draw more than 100,000 Indonesians demanding the arrest of the capital’s governor, a Christian accused of insulting the Quran.
National news agency Antara said 22,000 police personnel would be deployed to avoid a repeat of the violence that flared during a protest led by hardline Islamists last month when more than 100 people were injured in clashes with police.
Muslim groups accuse Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama of insulting the Quran, though they have pledged that Friday’s demonstration will be peaceful.
Purnama, popularly known as Ahok, is running for re-election in February against two Muslim candidates.
The race for the governorship has generated high political tension, and rumours of plots to undermine President Joko Widodo and scupper his chances of winning a second term in 2019.
Widodo, a long-time ally of Purnama, has blamed “political actors” for taking advantage of the popular fury among Muslims over Purnama to further their own ends, and the police have warned against attempts to destabilise his government.
Local media said on Friday that eight people had been detained for alleged treason. Police officials were not immediately available to comment on the reports, and Widodo declined to comment when asked by reporters.
Protesters began moving from the hulking Istiqlal mosque towards the National Monument in the centre of the city at around 5 a.m., after morning prayers.
“We are expecting over 100,000 participants,” Jakarta police spokesman Argo Yuwono said late on Thursday. “There is enough security so the public need not worry. We hope everything will proceed according to the agreement with the protesters.” (Reuters)
