Indonesian ex-governor to drop appeal against jail term

By Ainur Rohmah

TUBAN, Indonesia

Former governor of Indonesia’s capital Jakarta will withdraw an appeal against his two-year jail sentence over blasphemy charges.

Basuki Tjahaja Purnama said in a written letter read by his wife on Tuesday that he thanked his supporters for extending their support by holding a series of peaceful demonstrations across the country and abroad.

"I know it's not easy for you to accept this fact, let alone me, but I've learnt to forgive and accept all this," said Veronica Tan with tears.

The former governor urged his supporters to stop the protests for the sake of his release, fearing that the protests would potentially be exploited by his political opponents.

Purnama -- a Christian of Chinese descent -- was convicted on May 9 on charges of insulting clergy and the Quran during a speech in September last year that triggered uproar across Indonesia -- the world's most populous Muslim nation.

Later in a bid to clarify his remarks, he said he had referred to "certain politicians" who had misused the Quran to influence voters not to choose a non-Muslim as a politician.

The allegations of blasphemy left him defeated in gubernatorial election in April.