(Evangelical Focus) — Intolerance against Christians has increased considerably in Indonesia, specially since Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama “Ahok” stepped into the role from the deputy post without election in 2014, when his predecessor, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo became president of the country.

Ahok, a Christian of Chinese descent, is currently on trial on blasphemy charges, after he commented about a Quranic verse, in a speech he gave in the Thousand Islands regency in September 2016.

Basuki repeatedly denied the charges, and despite the pressure, he decided to keep running for the re-election in Indonesia’s most populated region.

The Christian politician won the first round with 43% of the votes, followed closely by Islamic conservative former Education and Culture Minister, Anies Baswedan, who has the 40% of the votes.

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