(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - “The extra security is needed due to rumors of attacks during the trial. However, the situation is still conducive [for the trial],” Sampang District Court chief Purnomo Amin Cahyo said, as quoted by tempo.co.

Sampang Prosecutor’s Office head Danang Purwoko shared the optimism, saying that Muslim leaders in Sampang had told him several days ago that they had urged residents to stay calm, even if they rejected the sect.

“The leaders also expressed their support to us and wished the trial to be fair,” Danang said.

Tajul was arrested earlier this month due to alleged religious blasphemy. His Islamic boarding school in Sampang was attacked by a group of men late last year.

The community has long been the subject of attacks because Shia is deemed heretical by some radical Muslim groups like Wahhabis.

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