Quran Reading Test for Indonesia Presidential Candidates Postponed

TEHRAN (IQNA) – The Aceh Clerics Council, which groups Muslim clerics in Indonesia’s Aceh, said that it has postponed indefinitely the Quran reading test it proposed for presidential candidates Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Prabowo Subianto, due to scheduling conflicts.

“There will be no [test] on Jan. 15. We are waiting for the latest schedule [of the two candidates]," Aceh Clerics Council chairman Marsyuddin Ishaq said on Sunday, as quoted by kompas.com. "Tomorrow [Monday], we will meet with both campaign teams to discuss the matter,” he added.

The council had challenged the two presidential candidates to undergo a Quran reading test to determine the best leader for the country, which has a majority Muslim population. The test was initially scheduled to be held on Jan. 15 at the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in Banda Aceh.

The Jokowi-Ma'ruf Amin campaign team said earlier that the incumbent was willing to take the test if the public demanded it. On the other hand, the campaign team for the Prabowo-Sandiaga Uno pair, which is backed by Islamic-leaning parties the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the National Mandate Party (PAN), said that such a test was unnecessary, or that if it did take place, the test's organizers should prove that they were experts in reading the Quran.

Marsyuddin also said on Monday that the council planned to coordinate with the Aceh Independent Election Commissions (KIP Aceh) on the test format that would be acceptable to both candidates.

Source: The Jakarta Post