Indonesian president joins massive Muslim gathering in Jakarta

Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Friday joined the gathering of Muslims who conducted a massive prayer, demanding the arrest of Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama over the blasphemy case.

President Widodo arrived in the gathering site in the capital city landmark of Monas square amid heavy rain by walking from the presidential palace which is adjacent to the square.

After listening to the sermon delivered by Muslim cleric Rizieq Shihab who leads a hardliner Muslim group of FPI, the president conducted the Friday prayer together with hundreds of thousands of Muslims who kept flocking to the square since the morning.

Before returning back to the presidential palace, the president expressed his gratitude for the peaceful event, hoping those gathering in the square would be safe on their way back home.

In his sermon, Rizieq repeatedly demanded to stop all forms of religious blasphemy and bring all violators to trial.

The massive gathering of Muslims demanding legal process against Basuki was the third to be staged in the capital city.

The second one was held on Nov. 4 marred with violence which killed one person and injured dozens of others.

Basuki, a Christian follower, has been accused of insulting Islam in a campaign speech he made on Sept. 27.

Basuki is now running for Jakarta gubernatorial election scheduled in February. Endit