ArrowArtboardCreated with Sketch.Title ChevronTitle ChevronIcon FacebookIcon LinkedinIcon Mail ContactPath LayerIcon MailPositive ArrowIcon Print
"I couldn't accept it," Ahok said of his first days in prison after being convicted of blasphemy charges. "I wanted to run away but I was afraid the prison guards would shoot me."   © Reuters
Business Spotlight

Rage fuels Pertamina's Ahok, Indonesia's most talked about Christian

Basuki Tjahaja Purnama embraces life after prison atop state oil giant

ERWIDA MAULIA, Nikkei staff writer | Indonesia

JAKARTA -- As Jakarta's first Christian governor of Chinese descent, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama became a powerful symbol of tolerance in the world's most populous majority-Muslim country.

A protege of president Joko Widodo, Purnama -- known by his nickname Ahok -- was on track for another term when accusations that he had insulted Islam blew apart the 2017 gubernatorial race, then saw him convicted of blasphemy and jailed for nearly two years.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored Content This content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.

Discover the all new Nikkei Asia app

  • Take your reading anywhere with offline reading functions
  • Never miss a story with breaking news alerts
  • Customize your reading experience

Nikkei Asian Review, now known as Nikkei Asia, will be the voice of the Asian Century.

Celebrate our next chapter
Free access for everyone - Sep. 30

Find out more