04 November 2016•Update: 04 November 2016
By Ainur Rohmah
JAKARTA
A mass protest to demand police investigate alleged blasphemy by the governor of Jakarta ended quietly Friday after leaders met with Indonesia's vice president to deliver their demands.
Indonesian security forces had been placed on alert as around 100,000 white-clothed demonstrators -- many brandishing the flags of Islamic organizations -- flooded into the capital to push for criminal proceedings.
Fears had been raised after images of Syrian militant calling for Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama to be shot were uploaded to the Internet, and four helicopters could be seen flying low Thursday around the presidential palace -- one of several major protest sites -- in preparation for any violence.
As the rally approached the 6 p.m. (1000GMT) police cut-off time, Vice President Jusuf Kalla told reporters that he had met protesters' representatives and the case would proceed according to the applicable law.
"The law will be enforced firmly and quickly in accordance with the rules" Metro TV reported him saying.
The representatives said they had accepted the result.
"Yes, the legal process will be carried out quickly," said cleric Bachtiar Nasir, one of the rally's organizers.
Soon after, protesters began to quietly disperse.
Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama is accused of publicly insulting Islam, however Ahok -- as he is more frequently known -- says he was calling for people not to be “deceived” by those using a Quranic verse, Al Maidah: Chapter 51, not that the verse itself was insulting.
During Friday's protest, only hijab wearing female protesters were employed, while around 500 police wore white skullcaps and recited Asmau Allah al-Husna (the 99 names of Allah) in fear of the demonstration turning violent.
