REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Expert on Islamic Science from the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Miftachul Akhyar said Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) had own interest when he mentioned surah al-Maidah verse 51 during his speech in Seribu Islands. He believed Ahok tried to distorts understandings of Muslims on Islamic teachings.

"He tried to deflect understanding of surah Al Maidah as a guidance for Muslims to choose their own leaders," said Miftachul in the eleventh trial of the alleged blasphemy case by Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) in the Auditorium of Agriculture Ministry in Jakarta on Tuesday (Feb 21). 

Miftachul explained that Ahok mentioned the surah Al Maidah verse 51 for three times. However he did not want to mention it one by one as it would widen the discussion. "I indeed did not witness it directly. It was on Youtube," he said. 

Miftachul who was also served as the Deputy of Rais Aam (Supreme Leader) of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) became the first expert witness presented by the public prosecutors during the eleventh trial of blasphemy case with Ahok as defendant. He was presented as an expert on religion. 

Meanwhile, Islamic religious expert from the Central Boards of Muhammadiyah Yunahar Ilyas who was also presented by the prosecutors as expert witness said Ahok blasphemed the clerics when mentioning surah Al Maidah verse 51 in his speech at Seribu Islands. However, Ahok did not mention in detail whether it was ulema that he called has decieved the people. 

"The accusation could be addressed to politicians, preachers, teachers and scholars. In this context, the party who has the authority to inherited the Prophet duty to convey message of Islam is the cleric. So, the speech has blasphemed the scholars," Yunahar said.

Yunahar explained Ahok mentioned the word 'people' and the people was in general whoever conveyed surah Al Maidah verse 51. "According to his statement, the scholars was lying," he said.

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