Basuki Tjahaja Purnama News

His case sparked protests in support and condemnation of a politician once tipped for the presidency in the world`s largest Muslim-majority nation.

Basuki Tjahaja Purnama was jailed for a longer-than-expected term in a ruling that critics fear will embolden hardline Islamist forces to challenge secularism in Indonesia.

The guilty verdict comes amid concern about the growing influence of Islamist groups.

Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, commonly known as Ahok, was sentenced to two years in prison on Tuesday, after being found guilty of blasphemy in a landmark trial seen as a test of Indonesia`s religious tolerance.

The blasphemy allegations and Basuki Tjahaja  Purnama`s subsequent poll loss have sparked fears that pluralistic traditions in Indonesia are under threat from the influence of hardliners.

Jakarta's controversial Christian Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama is leading polls ahead of the Indonesian capital's municipal elections on Wednesday, despite accusations of blasphemy by Muslim radicals, officials said on Sunday.

Islamist groups have held two big rallies since November against the governor of Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, who is on trial for insulting the Koran.

The incumbent governor of Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, was neck and neck with rival Anies Baswedan in the race to lead the Indonesian capital, early counting by private pollsters showed.

Basuki Tjahaja Purnama had secured 42.57 percent of the votes, just ahead of former minister Anies Baswedan in second place with 40.23 percent.

Indonesia has the world`s largest Muslim population but is officially secular and home to minority Christian and Hindu communities, as well as hundreds of ethnic groups.  

Thousands of Indonesians gathered on Saturday at a mosque in central Jakarta, where religious leaders urged them to support a Muslim candidate during next week's contentious election to select the capital's governor.

he politician, the favourite in opinion polls for the governor`s post before the case emerged, is a close ally of President Joko Widodo.

Jakarta`s Christian governor was formally named a suspect in a blasphemy investigation Wednesday, after allegations that he insulted Islam sparked a violent mass protest by Muslim hardliners in the Indonesian capital.

A sea of protesters wearing white Islamic robes swarmed the city`s largest mosque for Friday prayers before taking to the streets in a huge show of force against governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama.