In Indonesia, a court today refused to drop blasphemy charges against the Christian Governor of the capital Jakarta, as hundreds of people protested outside the court where the trial is taking place. Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, the first Christian to govern the capital in more than 50 years, sparked anger in the Muslim-majority country when he quoted a verse from the Koran while campaigning ahead of elections for the Jakarta governorship. <br/><br/>The high-profile case against Purnama, better known by his nickname Ahok, has captivated attention in Indonesia, and<br/>fanned concerns about hardliners pushing their agenda in the nation of 255 million. Judge Dwiarso Budi Santiarto ruled that the charges filed by prosecutors were legitimate despite complaints from the defence which said the trial was rushed and surrounded by too much public scrutiny.<br/><br/>Purnama remains a candidate for re-election in February, though he could be jailed for a maximum of five years if found guilty. He had been a favourite to win but the lawsuit has seen polls turn against him. The trial has been adjourned until January 3rd 2017.

In Indonesia, a court today refused to drop blasphemy charges against the Christian Governor of the capital Jakarta, as hundreds of people protested outside the court where the trial is taking place. Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, the first Christian to govern the capital in more than 50 years, sparked anger in the Muslim-majority country when he quoted a verse from the Koran while campaigning ahead of elections for the Jakarta governorship. <br/><br/>The high-profile case against Purnama, better known by his nickname Ahok,has captivated attention in Indonesia,and<br/>fanned concerns about hardliners pushing their agenda in the nation of 255 million. Judge Dwiarso Budi Santiarto ruled that the charges filed by prosecutors were legitimate despite complaints from the defence which said the trial was rushed and surrounded by too much public scrutiny.<br/><br/>Purnama remains a candidate for re-election in February, though he could be jailed for a maximum of five years if found guilty. He had been a favourite to win but the lawsuit has seen polls turn against him. The trial has been adjourned until January 3rd 2017.

In Indonesia, a court today refused to drop blasphemy charges against the Christian Governor of the capital Jakarta, as hundreds of people protested outside the court where the trial is taking place. Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, the first Christian to govern the capital in more than 50 years, sparked anger in the Muslim-majority country when he quoted a verse from the Koran while campaigning ahead of elections for the Jakarta governorship. <br/><br/>The high-profile case against Purnama, better known by his nickname Ahok, has captivated attention in Indonesia, and<br/>fanned concerns about hardliners pushing their agenda in the nation of 255 million. Judge Dwiarso Budi Santiarto ruled that the charges filed by prosecutors were legitimate despite complaints from the defence which said the trial was rushed and surrounded by too much public scrutiny.<br/><br/>Purnama remains a candidate for re-election in February, though he could be jailed for a maximum of five years if found guilty. He had been a favourite to win but the lawsuit has seen polls turn against him. The trial has been adjourned until January 3rd 2017.