Well, the australia thing is not much of a concern for me tbh. Relations between us has been on and off anyway..

But the blasphemy trial, it is comical.

So, our governor in Jakarta, Basuki Tjahja Purnama, or Ahok, is not of islamic faith and has been criticized by hardline islamic groups such as FPI (Front Pembela Islam). The public just doesn't care however, because the governor is a really good one, he's quite a hardworking and smart maverick governor that's able to bring order and control to our capital.

Now is the election weather for the new governor, he runs for his second term (After our president, Joko Widodo, who was the preceeding governor, became president, promoting his vice, Ahok, to become governor in the remainder of Jokowi's term)

Retaining his office as governor however, Ahok still continues his obligations, one day, he went to a territory known as Kepulauan seribu "Or Thousand Islands", a series of united islands that flourish through fishing, tourism and various other industrial jobs. In his speech he emphasized the importance of building the economy in Kepulauan Seribu by culturing Kerapu (Or Grouper fish), he also told the people of Kepulauan seribu that when he abdicates his position as governor on October 2017 if he doesn't get elected, they must not panic, as programs he introduced that day would still be functional.

He also expresses that they have their right to vote, despite all reasons, he also warned peope to not be fooled by hardline groups who constantly quote surah Al-Maidah 51, that quotes one must not be led by an infidel (Context is for religious leaders, not governmental leaders or any leaders whatsoever). [Read the surah, hardline groups took it out of context].

Ahok was given an honor by the people of the Thousand Islands, and no one was angry about his speech. The real video of his speech was posted on youtube, and several anonymous users called blasphemy (Like always with everything he does since the dawn of time)

But then, a man known as Buni Yani, edited the video and emphasized the so-called "Blasphemeous" remarks and stirred up trouble, sparking the country in an all-out-war concerning the matter. Hardline islamic groups then banded together and several people who were once hiding then came out and outcried over the fact that a quote of the al maidah 51 was used, resulting in some people to say that Ahok insulted islam.

Even stirring up major protests to trial Ahok for blasphemy, including many in the capital, where hardline islamic groups made major protests in monas. It also paved a way for intolerance in Indonesia, and the (flawed) argument of wether Indonesia should be an islamic state once more, surfaced.

What made me laugh however, is that people from other provinces, even other countries fly to Jakarta for the protest, all except those from the thousand islands. Why not? They were the ones who heard the speech firsthand, why is their side so quiet, hmmm. I wonder.

So the trial for blashphemy is allowed, and as the trial goes on it brought various "witnesses". You'd like to hear about this one, one of the witnesses, Novel, who is one of the leaders of hardline islamic group FPI, had, in his witness description, said that he worked in Pizza hut, however, he deliberately wrote the name incorrectly, to Fitsa Hats, due to his shame of being led by an infidel (Pizza hut is made by the Carney brothers, Dan Carney Frank Carney, all of whom are american)

Ahok pointed this out, and Novel said that the police made the mistake, the police said that it has gone through numerous verifications with the witness and the witness is alright about it, his signature on the witness description marks that the witness is indeed, verifying and is fully responsible of the description he gave.

He also explained that 27 calls were made to Novel from the thousand islands concerning "blasphemy", but there were no proof of this and he refuses to provide details on these so-called calls, these calls are going to be checked later on by the service provider.

What's more, Gus Joy, an advocate on the defamation, was exposed by Ahok to have lied about himself being a lawyer, he was never sworn in and yet he admitted that he was an officer of the law.

This is the thing that made me angry and laugh at the same time. This man Novel, said something like:
"27 calls were made to me from the thousand islands about the defamation, this is the will of muslims all over Indonesia!"
The defense asked Novel: "So the people of the thousand islands are a representation of all muslims in Indonesia?"
"Yes, but they do not have a strong faith, they follow a different kind of islam."

He said another thing after being prompted about his statements, and I translate: "Not that they do not have a strong faith, The People of the Thousand Islands could not comprehend the complexity of Al-Maidah 51 because they are too 'Awam' (A derogatory term that's used for rural dwellers are out-of-touch with the modern world), proven by their laughter."

Of course, the people of the Thousand Islands flew to outrage against this bastard.

I'm just sitting here and thinking, because Novel embodies quite a lot of our so-called "Religious leaders", who are you to judge how faithful we are or not? I mean, I would damn well be angry if someone were to come up to me and say, "you are not as faithful as I am."

Now I admit, I'm don't have the strongest faith (yet), but I am quite proud of my islamic faith, I look up to the Prophet Muhammad (Praise be upon him) who was never this violent and agressive at non-muslims, as a matter of fact, Muhammad SAW had been extremely tolerant and kind at those around despite how they treated him, for At-Taubah verse 6 says:

"And if any one of the polytheists seeks your protection, then grant him protection so that he may hear the words of Allah. Then deliver him to his place of safety. That is because they are a people who do not know." (Can't quote the arabic). For only Allah could judge a someone for their faith and worth.

Our founding fathers built this nation by tolerance and unity through diversity under god, it is a no-brainer to support their wishes. This Novel, man, Insyaallah, he would know the wrong of his actions.

Links if you'd like to know more

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/d...ed-to-know
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/12/ja...07985.html
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/...aring.html
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/...orter.html