RELIGION

Thousands rally in Jakarta to promote Indonesian unity

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Indonesians shout slogans as they display a large national Red-White flag during a rally titled "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika" (Unity in Diversity) Parade in Jakarta, Indonesia, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Hundreds of people staged the rally calling for peace and unity in the country. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) (The Associated Press)

Indonesians take shelter from the sun under a large national Red-White flag during a rally titled "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity) Parade in Jakarta, Indonesia, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Hundreds of people staged the rally calling for peace and unity in the country. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) (The Associated Press)

Indonesian women march under a large national Red-White flag during a rally titled "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika" (Unity in Diversity) Parade in Jakarta, Indonesia, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Hundreds of people staged the rally calling for peace and unity in the country. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) (The Associated Press)

Thousands of people have rallied in Indonesia's capital, calling on fellow citizens not to be divided by political and religious interests.

Saturday's rally came three days after police named the Christian governor of Jakarta, the capital, as a suspect in a blasphemy investigation in a major test of the Muslim-majority nation's reputation for religious tolerance.

Earlier this month, Jakarta was rocked by a massive protest by conservative Muslims against the popular governor, Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama.

More than 10,000 people, including religious leaders, legislators and members of human rights groups, took part in Saturday's rally, which was centered at the National Monument, with many participants marching along nearby main streets.