REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Indonesian Council of Ulama (MUI) has appointed the Islamic Defenders Front's Grand Imam Habib Rizieq Shihab as religious expert to study Basuki Tjahaja Purnama's (Ahok's) statement on Surah Al-Maidah, verse 51 of the Quran, its chief stated. "As he is a graduate of the Saudi (university) and holds a doctorate degree, we consider him competent," MUI Chairman Ma'ruf Amin noted as he gave his testimonies in the hearing of the blasphemy case involving non-active Jakarta Governor Ahok at the Agriculture Ministry complex in South Jakarta on Tuesday.

Kiai Ma'ruf has confirmed the council's letter appointing Habib Rizieq as a religious expert to study the non-active Jakarta governor's statement. "I did not sign the letter but one of the MUI chairmen signed it. Organizationally, the letter is valid," he remarked.

Kiai Ma'ruf pointed out that the National Movement to Safeguard MUI's Fatwa (GNPF-MUI) has nothing to do with the MUI. "It has nothing to do with MUI. The council has warned (GNPF-MUI) against bringing MUI's attribute in its various activities," he noted.

He said the MUI has set up four commissions to discuss the alleged blasphemy case. "The four commissions deal with fatwa, law, study, and information to check and investigate (findings) on the field and later discuss it," he added.

After the four commissions held discussions, they later reported the results to the council's day-to-day executive board. "(The results) were later discussed at a meeting of the day-to-day executive board of which I am a member. The day-to-day executive board comprises the general chairman, deputy chairman, and secretaries. In total, it comprises 20 members," he remarked.

After the matter was discussed with the day-to-day executive board, the MUI reached a conclusion that Ahok's statement has blasphemed the religion and ulemas, he added. 

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