The United Nations pressed Indonesia on Monday to release Jakarta's jailed Christian governor and repeal blasphemy laws which they say undermine religious freedom in the Muslim-majority nation. The call came as the family of Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, known as Ahok, unexpectedly withdrew an appeal against his conviction and two-year jail term for blasphemy, which had been submitted by his lawyers just hours earlier. A group of UN human rights experts urged Indonesia to free the 50-year-old and repeal the blasphemy laws, which critics say have been repeatedly used to target religious minorities in recent years.



More...