He was accused of blasphemy for saying: “Ladies and gentlemen, you can’t vote for me because you’re being lied to by Al Maidah verse 51 and so on.” But he apparently didn’t really say that the Qur’an was lying to Muslims; rather, he said that certain people were lying to Muslim voters by invoking a passage of the Qur’an: “So don’t believe people – deep down ladies and gentlemen, you can’t vote for me because [these people] are lying to you using Al Maidah verse 51 and so on.”
Lost in the controversy is the substance of the Qur’an passages he mentions. Here is Al Maidah verse 51: “O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you — then indeed, he is of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people.” (Qur’an 5:51)
Does that passage indeed lead some Muslims not to vote for or support Jewish or Christian candidates? It is a question worth asking, but when the subject is raised, as in this instance, it is immediately hijacked by claims of Muslim victimhood on the one hand, and Islamic supremacist menace on the other.
“Ahok denies saying the Quran tricks people against voting for him, says his words were edited out of context,” Coconuts Jakarta, October 7, 2016:
Many have suspected that underhanded attacks based on race and religion would play a large part in attempts to defeat Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama in his 2017 re-election bid. Although the official campaign season hasn’t even started yet, Ahok has been hit with a viral video, cut out of context, attempting to frame him as anti-Muslim.
Ahok, who is a Christian of Chinese descent, has recently been accused of blasphemy towards Islam after a video clip supposedly showed him saying to an audience in Kepulauan Seribu (The Thousand Islands) that the Islamic holy book of Quran is tricking Muslims to not vote for him in the upcoming 2017 election.
This is the full translation of Ahok’s speech in the above video:
“Ladies and gentlemen, you can’t vote for me because you’re being lied to by [the Quranic chapter] Al Maidah verse 51 and so on. That’s your right. So if you feel you can’t vote [for me] because you’re afraid to go to hell after you’ve been dumbed down, that’s fine. This is your personal calling. This program will continue regardless. So, ladies and gentlemen, don’t ever feel bad that you can’t vote for Ahok.”
From just that, one could see how the 30-second video would offend Muslims, as Ahok seems to imply that the Quran is tricking people against voting for him. And many Muslims were indeed offended, with several groups, including the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), announcing plans to report Ahok to the National Police’s Crime Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) today for blasphemy.
Not only that, Muhyiddin Junaidi, head of International Affairs at MUI, said that Ahok is lucky that MUI is getting law enforcement involved, because “if we were in Pakistan or India, he (Ahok) would have been killed.”
Yesterday, Ahok responded to the allegations by posting a clarification on his official Facebook page. In it, he urged people to w
atch his speech in full as he says the clip was cut out of context to make it appear like he insulted the Quran, which he said he would never do because he doesn’t like to politicize sacred scripture.Below is the full video with the translation of the longer part of the 30-second video clipping above, with some words adapted linguistically to fit the context of Ahok’s words in its entirety (from 23:40 to 25:35):
“Ladies and gentlemen, you shouldn’t worry. The election has been moved forward, so if I’m not re-elected, I’ll step down in October 2017. So if these programs are going to run, you will still be able to reap the benefits from me. Even if I’m not re-elected as governor. I want to tell you this so you’ll be enthusiastic [about the program]. Don’t think that oh, if Ahok’s not chosen, then his programs will disappear. No, I’m here at least until October 2017. So don’t believe people – deep down ladies and gentlemen, you can’t vote for me because [these people] are lying to you using [the Quranic chapter] Al Maidah verse 51 and so on. That’s your right. So if you feel you can’t vote [for me] because you’re afraid to go to hell after you’ve been dumbed down, that’s fine. This is your personal calling. This program will continue regardless. So, ladies and gentlemen, don’t ever feel bad that you can’t vote for Ahok.”
Although many netizens have been calling for Ahok to be punished for the perceived blasphemy, many have also come to his defense, especially after the clarification….

t. says
All this crazy mess will be arriving very soon in all western countries!
t. says
How ironic that this takes place in Indonesia! If we look at Indonesia’s history, not in the very distant past, merely a few hundreds years ago, Indonesia was mainly Buddhist.
At one point the peaceful Buddhists in some regions opened their territories and welcomed many Muslims and thought that these later ones will appreciate their hospitality, generosity and peacefulness and reciprocate the good shown to them with their proper good deeds and peacefulness.
Meanwhile, with their numbers and powers increasing gradually, they started using all methods to propagate the will of “Allah” in the land, from using force, deceit to conversions of local Indonesians to Islam by violence, intermarriage or by using other methods.
Does any one see something very similar taking place right now, but which is on a far greater scale, with worse results, ultimately for the entire world?
sog says
I’m guessing they weren’t gentle enough to rub such gentleness off on their Arab guests. We need to try harder.
Mazo says
The Dutch forced the Hindu Osing people on Java to convert to Islam and wiped Hinduism out from Java and made it a Muslim island.
The Dutch slaughtered Hindu Balinese when they invaded Bali.
The Dutch mass slaughtered pagan animist Banda islanders out of greed for spices.
The Dutch started the Transmigration program of dumping Javanese and Madurese settlers onto peripheral areas of Indonesia like West Papua.
You can thank the Dutch for what happened.
t. says
If that’s historically accurate, it means that almost all, if not all, of this mess, taking place in many countries, comes back to the stupid west!
The US helped the Taliban against the Soviets and the problems of Afghanistan and Al Qaeda are created. Reagan makes a secret deal with Ayatollah Khomeini and the Islamic R. of Iran is created. George Bush invades Iraq and ISIS is created. Obama bombs Qaddafi out of power and ISIS in Libya is created. The whole western world cheer leads the so-called Arab spring and the Muslim brothers take power in Egypt and the whole Middle East becomes destabilized.
Excuse me, I have to stop now, I am running out of breath!
Angemon says
t. posted:
“If that’s historically accurate, it means that almost all, if not all, of this mess, taking place in many countries, comes back to the stupid west!”
t. taking a muslim apologist at face value AND making a blanket accusation against the West? Shocker! IS the West responsible for, for example, the war in Chechnia?
“The US helped the Taliban against the Soviets and the problems of Afghanistan and Al Qaeda are created.”
I’m quite sure Afghanistan had plenty of problems before the US got in the scene. Namely, a KGB backed coup that placed a mass-murderer in power. Talibans and al-qaeda existed before the US got in as well. On the other hand, Russia spent decades and millions trying to infiltrate America, spreading marxism and cultivating “community organizers” to spread dissent and discord. A good example would be Barack Obama.
Agustinus Daniel says
I am Indonesian, and I know the history of my country. Do not blame the Dutch for the Islamic domination in Indonesia.
Before the Dutch came to Indonesia, muslims came as merchants (just as in US or Europe, they came as refugees or immigrants). The Hindu kingdom welcomed them. But, when they gained the power they need, they started to rebel against the Hindu kingdom in Java and pushed them to Bali island.
Please take a lesson from our history! It will happen in US and Europe when the muslims gain enough power to destroy YOU!
However, Islamic sharia is not a popular idea in my country. At least until now. The secular and nationalist are still stronger in my country. Thatt’s why we can have a non-muslim Governor in Jakarta, the capital city which muslims are dominant!
Mazo says
The Dutch also started the Batavia massacre of 1740 against non-Muslim Chinese in Java.
In response, Chinese and Javanese Muslims launched the massive revolt in the 1741 Java War to slaughter Dutch imperialists in revenge for the Batavia massacre.
Mazo says
The Muslim Sultans of Java were descendants of Hindu Majapahit nobles who converted to Islam after traders introduced the religion to them. They founded several Sultanates on Java which was not an independent Kingdom. There was no single Javanese Kingdom. There were several.
The Dutch wiped out the last vestige of native Javanese Hinduism in the Osing people and thats a fact. The Dutch invaded Hindu Bali by force. Do you dispute these two facts?
UNCLE VLADDI says
Quick! Somebody email Anderson Cooper (isn’t he a Vanderbilt)?!
😉
Agustinus Daniel says
You still think that The Dutch was responsible for the domination of muslims in Indonesia? That’s wrong!
Before they came to Indonesia, Islamic sultans already replace Hindu Kingdoms in Java and other places. Yes, The Dutch fought Hindu people in Bali… NOT because they were Hindu, but because they did not want to cooperate with The Dutch.
So, please do not talk about The Dutch responsible for muslims domination in my country. If they ever helped particular religion to spread in Indonesia, it is Protestant… not Islam.
Mazo says
The Wali Songo converted Hindu Nobles in Java to Islam. Osing were the only remaining Hindu Kingdom on the island of Java until the Dutch forced converted them to Islam.
Javanese Islam is also heavily syncretic but under Dutch rule, tons of Hadhrami Arabs migrated to Indonesian islands like Java. Hadhrami Arabs founded Sultanates under Dutch rule on Borneo like Pontianak.
Mazo says
The Wali Songo converted Hindu Nobles in kingdoms on Java to Islam and the Hindu Osing people were the only remaining Hindu people on Java until the Dutch forced converted them to Islam.
Javanese Islam is also heavily syncretic with Hinduism but under Dutch rule Hadhrami Arabs migrated to Indonesian islands like Java and introduced strict Islam. Hadhrami Arabs founded Sultanates like Pontianak in Borneo under Dutch rule and helped spread Islam.
You refuse to address the Osing people or anything else I said.
Hary says
Agustinus, i’m indonesian, you are a lier, muslims not came as refugees / immigtants, they first came to indonesia as a trader.
Please take a lesson from what, dont lie my friend, i am so sad to see you trying provocate US & Europe people.
Muslim, christiant, buddhist, hindu & kong hu cu have same position in our country. We have to love each other. Not destroy each other.
Luc says
Hary, did you really read what Augustinus wrote? He said Muslims came to Indonesia as traders and to Europe as economic refugees. He is completely correct.
The Dutch were only interested in money, not in religion. If they would have been like the Potuguese or Spanish (cf. South America or Philipines), almost everybody would be Protestant in Indonesia. They had 350 years for that.
So perhaps it IS the fault of the Dutch, they should hve behaved more as Muslims.
DFD says
It already has. To be noted, that Gemtleman has GUTS, COURAGE!
Pity I cant vote for him…
Bob says
It’s already here, thanks to weak-kneed politicos!
Michael Laudahn says
‘Deep down ladies and gentlemen, you can’t vote for me because [these people] are lying to you using [the Quranic chapter] Al Maidah verse 51 and so on. That’s your right. So if you feel you can’t vote [for me] because you’re afraid to go to hell after you’ve been dumbed down, that’s fine’:
Love it. What refreshing individuals these disbelievers are. Well, some of them at least. .)
Carolyne says
I certainly hope this brave man can keep his head attached to his body after “Enraging” some hairy Muslims.
jewdog says
Notice that the report doesn’t quote the verse of the Quran referenced. Typical, unless it’s one of the Meccan feel-good verses.
Westman says
It’s the old twist and turn, a cousin of bend and snap; Islam distorting reality for its own ends.
Perhaps it is too much to ask for honesty from an ideology born in a culture where every transaction was once a bartering. Bartering is an agressive attempt to gain advantage, so no one should be surprised at subterfuge, beligerance, false witness, or false advertising. Let the buyer beware.
Angemon says
He was attempting to *comfort* them, and see how far that got him…
Matthieu Baudin says
Indonesia will remain a weak democracy so long as non-muslims standing for office have to watch every word they say for fear of causing offence. This type of ‘walking on eggshells’ is what one has come to expect in Pakistan and it will be a huge disappointment if the political atmosphere in Indonesia follows suit.
Carolyne says
There’s nothing more amusing than a frustrated, enraged Muslim.
Mazo says
The Wali Songo converted Hindu Nobles in kingdoms on Java to Islam and the Hindu Osing people were the only remaining Hindu people on Java until the Dutch forced converted them to Islam.
Javanese Islam is also heavily syncretic with Hinduism but under Dutch rule Hadhrami Arabs migrated to Indonesian islands like Java and introduced strict Islam. Hadhrami Arabs founded Sultanates like Pontianak in Borneo under Dutch rule and helped spread Islam.
You refuse to address the Osing people or anything else I said.
Vlady says
Dutch forced them to convert to islam?? You are deluded.. Dutch was asked by mataram islam kingdom to help them conquer Blambangan (where the osing live).. Since the fall of majapahit in 1492 it was the hardest place to conquer by islam because it is closer to kingdom in bali than majapahit and the last stand of hinduism in java island.. It is usual for mataram islam to ask help from the dutch and reward them with goods, money, trade deals, or teritory.. The dutch don’t care about converting as long as they get money.. Even the missionaries only preached in remote area such as maluku or papua.. Only small number who preached in java and it was in mountainous area.. And ii is common pattern in islam if you have muslim community than slowly but sure it will become more radical because like it or not muslims love middle eastern people.. Even in Indonesia, they are viewed as holier people than native preacher.. So it is not uncommon for the rulers to import people from middle eastern.. In the end the goal of islam is to make you live like in middle east.. You won’t have your own islam.. Because islam is mahomed and his doing..
Ahok is a great guy.. A brave one.. I salute him.. No one in the history of indonesia a Chinese and non-muslim have a courage to become a governor in the muslim majority area..
Sorry for my bad english.. I am Indonesian btw..
Mazo says
The Dutch forced the Blambangan and Osing people to convert to Islam. Their motives are irrelevant.
The Dutch used to say “Liever Turks dan Paaps”.
The Dutch started the Batavia massacre against Chinese in Java. Chinese and Javanese rebelled against Dutch rule after the massacre in the Java war.
Hadhrami Arabs were able to migrate in greater numbers after the invention of the steamship and steamship companies. Before that a few of them came on wooden sailing ships. They Arabs founded Sultanates which were like princely states under Dutch rule.
Dayak non-Muslims and Malay Muslims joined together to mass slaughter Madurese Muslim migrants on Borneo. Nobody did anything about it.
Luc says
OMG. You have really no idea what the slogan “LIEVER TURKS DAN PAAPS” meant. It was in the 80 year war of the Dutch against catholic Spain. They meant by that, even if the Turkish Ottoman empire was a huge thread for Europe, the rule of Spain was considered even worse. In fact it is not even a religious statement.
The Dutch never wanted anyone to convert to Islam. They wanted to do business. And it was NOT the Dutch government but the VOC, a Dutch commercial company who considered Asia as theirs. The Dutch government only took over centuries later when the VOC went bankrupt.
The renegade says
(Not only that, Muhyiddin Junaidi, head of International Affairs at MUI, said that Ahok is lucky that MUI is getting law enforcement involved, because “if we were in Pakistan or India, he (Ahok) would have been killed.”)
Not sure why he mentioned India. Taslima Nasreen is in India and is safe. Salman Rushdue comes and goes to India. Tarek Fattah comes and goes to India… there are many more…
What would be interesting to see is what would happen to Muhiyuddin if he comes to India….
Pakistan and China are poking the Indian elephant a lot and making us more and more agitated….. before the rampage begins….
We can only take so much BS! before we start to retaliate no holds bar..
Fcuk pakistan…. and all countries and all people that believe Muhammad is an ideal man….
The unbalanced equation called Islam that is destructive like “smith” (matrix trilogy) will some have a “neo” to balance it out… but not before a lot of unnecessary destruction and death takes place..
Human beings numbers are out of balance with nature and the natural cycle of death and destruction will be followed by birth and regeneration….
It is nature. It is the way things are.. some understand and accept it… others deny it..
It makes no difference what you believe… you cannot change human nature and you cannot change nature that controls humans…. checks and balances will eventually kick in…