Just in case you thought these kinds of cases couldn’t get any more absurd, Luke is accused of “unpleasant conduct,” in addition to blasphemy, because he is supposed to have unplugged and damaged a microphone used for Qur’an recitation in a mosque. He denies it. The justification for the blasphemy charge itself, meanwhile, remains “unclear.” More on this story: it appears that “Luke Gregory Lloyd” is the same person as “Greg Luke.” “American to Appear in Indonesian Court for Allegedly Blaspheming Islam,” from the Jakarta Globe, September 28:
Lombok. A United States citizen residing on the Indonesian island of Lombok will appear in court “within two or three days” on charges of blaspheming Islam, police said on Tuesday.
Central Lombok Police said the dossier of Greg Luke, 64, from California, had been accepted by the Praya District Prosecutor’s Office.
The charges stem from an incident in which police claim the Californian entered a mosque near his house in Kuta, turned down its speakers and insulted Islam. Luke was attacked by a rampaging mob and his home and contents destroyed or stolen in the aftermath.
Nurkholis, head of the prosecutor office’s general crimes section, confirmed they had received the case file.
“Within two or three days, the US citizen will appear in court on two charges. The first is blasphemy and the second is unpleasant conduct,” Nurkholis said.
“The unpleasant conduct is because he is alleged to have unplugged and damaged the mosque microphone, which locals used for reciting the Koran,” he said.
The nature of the blasphemy charge remains unclear.
Luke has vigorously denied the charges, saying he was assaulted without stepping foot in the mosque….