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| Jakarta election: Polling for divisive governor contest closes | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Polling has closed in a run-off election for the post of Jakarta's governor, seen by many as a key test for Indonesia's secular identity. | |
| The candidates are incumbent Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, a Christian of Chinese descent, and Anies Rasyid Baswedan, a Muslim. | |
| Critics of Mr Purnama have accused him of blasphemy, heightening racial and religious tensions. | |
| Officials are expected to announce early results soon. | |
| Hardline Islamist groups say Mr Purnama insulted a Koranic verse during a campaign speech and have rallied large crowds against him in recent months. He is now on trial for blasphemy, which he denies. | |
| Correspondents say this has made the election a choice between secularism and a growing hardline Islamist movement in Indonesia. | Correspondents say this has made the election a choice between secularism and a growing hardline Islamist movement in Indonesia. |
| How did the vote go? | |
| BBC Indonesian editor Rebecca Henschke says that though extra security officers have been deployed to polling stations, the mood in Jakarta has not been overly tense, and there is still a festive atmosphere. | |
| Police said the election proceeded "smoothly and safely with no significant disruption", although there were a few "incidents". Reuters reported that 15 people were detained after disturbances at polling stations. | |
| A coalition of hardline Islamic groups supporting Mr Basedan previously said that it would send at least 100 activists to each polling station to monitor voting. But correspondents said they had a very limited presence. | |
| Election officials are now counting the votes. A preliminary result based on approved private polls will be announced by the end of the day, with the official result due in early May. | |
| Mr Purnama, also popularly known as "Ahok", voted with his family in north Jakarta early on Wednesday morning. | Mr Purnama, also popularly known as "Ahok", voted with his family in north Jakarta early on Wednesday morning. |
| He told reporters: "Jakartans must use their voice as the future of Jakarta is in their hands. Don't be afraid, the police are here providing security." | He told reporters: "Jakartans must use their voice as the future of Jakarta is in their hands. Don't be afraid, the police are here providing security." |
| Police had warned against voter intimidation. | |
| Rizieq Shihab, leader of the Islamic Defenders Front which has been leading protests against Mr Purnama, also cast his vote. | |
| Asked by the BBC if his group was damaging Indonesia's pluralist democracy, he said: "Democracy doesn't stop someone from voting for a person from the same religion as you.... Christian vote for Christian, Muslims vote for Muslim." | Asked by the BBC if his group was damaging Indonesia's pluralist democracy, he said: "Democracy doesn't stop someone from voting for a person from the same religion as you.... Christian vote for Christian, Muslims vote for Muslim." |
| The election has also seen anti-Chinese sentiment, sparking unease in a country that has seen violence against its Chinese minority previously. | The election has also seen anti-Chinese sentiment, sparking unease in a country that has seen violence against its Chinese minority previously. |
| A number of Chinese Indonesians who turned up to vote told the BBC that they were not intimidated. | A number of Chinese Indonesians who turned up to vote told the BBC that they were not intimidated. |
| "Politics is cruel. There will be threats, physically or verbally. But I still feel comfortable even though I'm of Chinese descent.... So far they only scream out hatred but haven't really acted on it," one voter, Rudi Irmawan, told the BBC. | "Politics is cruel. There will be threats, physically or verbally. But I still feel comfortable even though I'm of Chinese descent.... So far they only scream out hatred but haven't really acted on it," one voter, Rudi Irmawan, told the BBC. |
| What is the controversy about? | What is the controversy about? |
| Mr Purnama is the first Christian and minority ethnic Chinese leader of Jakarta in over 50 years. | Mr Purnama is the first Christian and minority ethnic Chinese leader of Jakarta in over 50 years. |
| He stepped into the role from the deputy post without election in 2014, when his predecessor, Mr Joko Widodo, became president. | He stepped into the role from the deputy post without election in 2014, when his predecessor, Mr Joko Widodo, became president. |
| Mr Purnama was accused last year of insulting a Koranic verse during a campaign speech, which he has denied, saying his comments were aimed at politicians "incorrectly" using the Koran against him. | Mr Purnama was accused last year of insulting a Koranic verse during a campaign speech, which he has denied, saying his comments were aimed at politicians "incorrectly" using the Koran against him. |
| Hardline Islamists have cited that verse from the Koran to support an argument that Muslims should not vote for a non-Muslim leader. | |
| Correspondents say his rivals have also heavily capitalised on these allegations to harness the Muslim vote, with Mr Baswedan meeting the Islamic Defenders Front twice publically. | Correspondents say his rivals have also heavily capitalised on these allegations to harness the Muslim vote, with Mr Baswedan meeting the Islamic Defenders Front twice publically. |
| If convicted, he faces a maximum five-year jail sentence, although he could still govern while appeals are heard. His trial is due to resume on Thursday. | If convicted, he faces a maximum five-year jail sentence, although he could still govern while appeals are heard. His trial is due to resume on Thursday. |
| How has it affected the outcome? | How has it affected the outcome? |
| The controversy has clearly hurt Mr Purnama's chances. Once considered the clear frontrunner, he won the first round of the election in February with only 43% of the vote, while Mr Baswedan had 40%. | The controversy has clearly hurt Mr Purnama's chances. Once considered the clear frontrunner, he won the first round of the election in February with only 43% of the vote, while Mr Baswedan had 40%. |
| The run-off is now taking place as Mr Purnama failed to win that first round by a sufficiently large margin. | The run-off is now taking place as Mr Purnama failed to win that first round by a sufficiently large margin. |
| The Jakarta Post has described the campaign as "the dirtiest, most polarising and most divisive the nation has ever seen". | The Jakarta Post has described the campaign as "the dirtiest, most polarising and most divisive the nation has ever seen". |
| Indonesia is the world's most-populous Muslim country. About 85% of its population are Muslim, but the country officially respects six religions. | Indonesia is the world's most-populous Muslim country. About 85% of its population are Muslim, but the country officially respects six religions. |