Weeping in court is not the ideal pre-election build up for a politician seeking re-election.
But through a determined campaign assisted by crude blasphemy laws, that is where Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, the governor of Jakarta, Indonesia's capital, found himself on Tuesday.
Known as Ahok, the popular leader is both Chinese and Christian, making him an unusual fit to be a politician in the world's most populous Muslim country that is in the midst of brokering a tense stand off in the South China Sea.
He is the first Christian governor of Jakarta in nearly 50 years and was a strong favourite to win the upcoming election in February.
But conservative Islamic groups have seized on comments he made in a campaign speech in September where he referenced a Qur'anic verse that some see as prohibiting Muslims from living under non-Muslim rule.
Hardliners accused him of blasphemy, a criminal offence, in Indonesia, and pressurised police into investigating the incident.
His comments were circulated on social media, whipping up a frenzy of outrage. But Purnama's supporters say the video being shared is heavily edited with subtitles changing what he actually said to appear more inflammatory.
He insists his comments were aimed at politicians "incorrectly" using the verse against him and were not aimed at the verse itself. He has apologised on a number of occasions for any offence caused while denying he committed blasphemy.
"There was no intention to insult religion," he said. "I am sending my message to all offended Muslims: I sincerely apologise."
But in an extraordinary display of public pressure, hundreds of thousands of Muslims marched through the streets of Jakarta in early November demand Ahok, as he is commonly called, be arrested. "If police cannot do it we will," one chanted as the protest ended in violence and scuffles with police.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who preceeded Purnama as Jakarta governor and is a close ally, accused "political actors" of "exploiting the situation", according to Reuters.
But the campaign has intensified and on 16 November police caved in and named Purnama as a suspect, clearing the way for him to be tried. Human rights groups warned this sets a dangerous precedent where outspoken hardliners can interfere with the legal process.
Indonesia technically protects freedom of religion in its constitution. But in reality only six faiths are recognised and strict blasphemy laws surround all of them. Critics say these laws are actually used to target minority groups and are not applied fairly.
The majority of Indonesia's 203 million Muslims, which make up 87 per cent of the population, come from the relatively tolerant Nusantara brand of Islam. But an increasingly vocal minority of hardline conservatives are threatening a peaceful consensus.
Open Doors, the Christian persecution charity, notes that despite the religious freedom guarantee in the constitution, "a plethora of by-laws and rules in various provinces can override this".
Aceh, a province north of Jakarta, is ruled under strict Sharia law and 8,000 Christians have been forced to flee their homes. Some cite Purnama's case as a sign that the previously tolerant Muslim nation is becoming radicalised.
The trial began on Tuesday and will adjourn until December 20. If convicted he faces a maximum five-year jail sentence.
Outside the court hundreds of demonstrators chanted: "Jail Governor Ahok now." They punched their fists in the air and shouted: "We must defend Islam from those who insult the holy book," according to the BBC's Rebecca Henschke.
But he is not yet barred from standing in next year's election, where despite the trial, he remains a strong contender.
That election and this trial is a key test of Indonesia's attitude towards freedom of belief. A Purnama victory would be a sure sign radical Islam does not have a strong foothold, at least in the capital. But if jailed the already vocal extremists would be emboldened.
The protesters are already threatening to take matters into their own hands if he is not jailed. Anything less than innocent on all charges would be a terrifying prospect for Indonesia.
