Ahok Free from Prison in Today's History, January 24, 2019

Ahok was sentenced to two years for blasphemy on May 9, 2017 (ANTARA FOTO/Ubaidillah)

JAKARTA - Today's memory, seven years ago, January 24, 2019, the former Governor of DKI Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) was free from prison. Ahok was then asked by all Muslims in Indonesia to guard their tongues, especially sensitive matters such as religion.

Previously, Ahok's statement regarding the letter of Al Maidah 51 went viral everywhere. Ahok was considered to have committed blasphemy. This condition made Muslims angry. The action of defending Islam was rolled out everywhere so that Ahok was prosecuted. Ahok then went into hiding.

Ahok has a brilliant achievement in leading DKI Jakarta from 2014-2017. The Governor of DKI Jakarta was able to beautify and improve the bureaucracy in Jakarta. All kinds of complaints from residents were tried to be heard.

This condition gave Ahok a great opportunity to be re-elected as the leader in the 2017 DKI Jakarta gubernatorial election. Ahok is considered superior to other candidates who applied such as Anies Baswedan. However, everything changed when Ahok gave a speech on the Thousand Islands in September 2016.

Ahok warned the residents of the Thousand Islands not to be easily deceived by things that smell of religion. Ahok asked the residents not to be deceived by the letter of Al Maidah 51. A letter that confirms to Muslims not to choose leaders from among non-Muslims.

Ahok also got unlucky. His speech was then spread everywhere. Ahok's statement was considered blasphemy. The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) to the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) reacted. They asked that Ahok be immediately punished.

The desire did not go smoothly. All Muslims immediately demanded by presenting Islamic defense actions everywhere, from Action 441 to 212. As a result, Ahok's popularity declined. He lost in the DKI Jakarta gubernatorial election.

Later, Ahok was immediately processed for his responsibility for his actions in insulting religion. Ahok resigned from the position of Governor of DKI Jakarta. The culmination of this, Ahok was found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison on May 9, 2017. Ahok was then detained at the Mako Brimob Kelapa Dua Detention Center, Depok, West Java.

"Declaring the defendant Basuki Tjahaja Purnama alias Ahok proven to be valid and convincing guilty of blasphemy and sentenced to 2 years in prison," said the Head of the North Jakarta District Court Panel of Judges, Dwiarso Budi Santiarto, as quoted by the lamankompas.com, May 9, 2017.

The detention made all kinds of Ahok's political activities stop. He was no longer noisy. He just wanted to serve his sentence quietly. Ahok didn't even want to use the parole option.

Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) when he was convicted of blasphemy. (ANTARA)

Ahok was also lucky to get remission several times as other prisoners. Ahok's total prison sentence was 1 year 8 months 15 days. Ahok was also officially free from prison on January 24, 2019.

The release was greeted with cheers by his supporters. However, FPI, which was originally the party that opposed Ahok in the blasphemy case, then spoke up. They asked Ahok to take a valuable lesson from prison: watch your mouth.

"We hope Ahok can take the wisdom and lessons from what has happened and not repeat it and be careful in acting and speaking. Don't hurt the Muslims again. Remember, your tongue is your weapon."

"Respect and respect other religions. Our brains are above our mouths, so think before you speak. Religion is a matter of belief, so if the affairs of religion are disturbed, believers of any religion will be angry," said FPI spokesman Slamet Maarif as quoted by lamandetik.com, January 24, 2019.