TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Yuhanar Ilyas, executive board chairman of Indonesia’s second largest Islamic organization Muhammadiyah, expects ulemas to rethink the planned rally scheduled for December 2.
“There is still time before December 2, to hold talks, find better [solution] for all,” Yuhanar said Thursday in a dialogue on blasphemy case in South Jakarta.
Hardline group Front Pembela Islam (FPI) and other Muslim organizations plan to stage a rally on December 2, following that of October 14, dubbed ‘Aksi Bela Islam I’ (Act to Defend Islam I) and November 4, dubbed ‘Aksi Bela Islam II’ (Act to Defend Islam II).
FPI chief Muhammad Rizieq Shihab said that the December 2 rally will be dubbed ‘Aksi Bela Islam III’ (Act to Defend Islam III). “The objective remains, [demand] to arrest Ahok [Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama],” Rizieq said at the Police Criminal Investigation Unit on Wednesday.
On the planned rally, Police have urged protesters to maintain order. Jakarta Metro Police chief Mochammad Iriawan advised protesters not to perform Friday prayer on the streets.
Police chief General M. Tito Karnavian has also asked them not to block the roads of M.H Thamrin and Jenderal Sudirman, which are vital to city’s business activities.
REZKI ALVIONITASARI