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Restraining Rizieq the Right Way

Translator

Editor

24 January 2017 12:44 WIB

The Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) leader, Rizieq Shihab [Center].

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The police plan to prosecute the elusive Rizieq Syihab through a number of criminal cases should not be simply based on muzzling this 'troublemaker'. To some people, Rizieq is behind the campaign to incite violence, slander Pancasila, attack other religions and inflame opposition against the government.



As leader of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), his reputation soared after he led the November 4 and December 2 mass rallies demanding legal action against Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja "Ahok" Purnama, who is now on trial for insulting the Quran. Although it is difficult to prove cases of blasphemy, hundreds of thousands of protesters were pressure enough for the police to indict Ahok.

Prosecuting Rizieq through weak and unconvincing legal devices will only make him a hero. For example, using the blasphemy allegation for questioning Jesus Christ's divinity as the son of Mary, could be seen as vengeful and inappropriate.

The religious blasphemy law, which we inherited from the colonial powers, is very elastic and its limitations are unclear. It should not be applied to Ahok, Rizieq or whomever. Rizieq's statements belittling other faiths may be contemptible, but it cannot be classified as a crime. Ahok is already a victim of this nebulous legislation. Tomorrow it will be Rizieq's turn, and the next day it will be someone else. If the law continues to be applied in this way, then the comparative philosophical study of Easter by poet Joko Pinurbo could also be regarded as blasphemous.

Rizieq's statements are problematic. In Bandung in 2014, he made some inappropriate comments about Pancasila and founding president Sukarno. In Purwakarta, he belittled the word 'sampurasun', a form of greeting in the Sundanese dialect, which he pronounced as 'campurracun', meaning poisonous. In Jakarta, he described the Jakarta Metro police chief as having the brains of a low-level civil defense member. All three statements form the basis of criminal defamation cases against him.

There is no question that what Rizieq said is unethical. Yet, in his criticism of Pancasila, he was actually referring to the history of the nation, citing the conflict between Islamic politicians seeking to impose the Jakarta Charter and those who reject it. It was in the context of Pancasila, without the Jakarta Charter, that he maintained was like belittling belief in God. In other words, he was criticizing Sukarno for failing to place that belief in the highest order of the Pancasila.

Rizieq is trying to turn back history by imagining a glorious state of Islamic Indonesia when he wants the clause, "the responsibility of all the faithful is to follow the sharia," to be included in the Constitution. He does not reject Pancasila, he just wants the Jakarta Charter to be part of it.

Similarly, the hate-speech charges against Rizieq for criticizing our paper currency as carrying the symbol of the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI). It is hard to refute the fact that the hammer-and-sickle is actually the symbol of Bank Indonesia, which is evident when the bills are placed under a light. In this regard, we can rightly accuse Rizieq of suffering from acute communism-phobia. It is more laughable than criminal.

The police should focus instead on the violent acts Rizieq and the FPI have perpetrated over the years. For example, investigators need to dig deeper into their involvement in the burning of the Arjuna statue in Purwakarta, West Java, last February. Rizieq's role in provoking hatred, including a call to kill Ahok, must be investigated. The horrific killing of a member of the Ahmadiyah minority sect in Pandeglang, Banten, in 2011, must also be reopened.

Violent raids on entertainment places openly carried out by the FPI were clearly criminal acts. By focusing on these cases, the police can avoid being caught up in an unnecessary rhetorical debate. It must be remembered that as a citizen, Rizieq is protected by the right to freely express his views, no matter how low they may be.

The police should not stop with Rizieq alone. Those who have taken advantage of other religious figures, for political or other reasons, must be investigated as well. Rumors of 'powerful people' behind Rizieq must be exposed by tracing the source of FPI funds. One way would be by involving the Center for the Reporting and Analysis of Financial Transactions (PPATK).

It would also not hurt to study the political situation prior to taking any action against Rizieq. But this should not be a prolonged exercise because the resulting public unease and sagging credibility of law enforcers could lead to even more turmoil. (*)

Read the full story in this week's edition of Tempo English Edition




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