TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The 212 Alumni Brotherhood or PA 212 reportedly planned to stage a demonstration to defend preacher Abdul Somad Batubara or known as Ustad Abdul Somad (UAS) before the Singapore Embassy in Jakarta. The agenda was in response to the latter’s refusal of entry to the neighboring country.

The Metro Jaya Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Endra Zulpan said his side has not yet received any notification letter regarding the plan, underlining that in accordance with the law, everyone who wants to hold a protest and express opinions in public must submit a notification letter to the police.

“We have not received the notification yet. If there is [a rally], we will provide security,” he said at the Metro Jaya Police HQ, South Jakarta, Thursday, May 19, 2022.

PA 212 deputy secretary-general Novel Bamukmin confirmed the plan. “News about PA 212’s plan to take action to defend the ulama in front of the Singapore Embassy is true,” he said via short message to Tempo on Thursday.

However, Novel continued, the plan was still being discussed internally. “Inshallah, we will hold an official meeting in the next few days to discuss the action to defend ulama in front of the Singapore Embassy,” said Novel.

As widely reported, Abdul Somad was denied entry to Singapore on Monday, May 16, 2022. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) of Singapore explained in a press release that the preacher was refused entry as he has been known to preach extremist and segregationist teachings that are unacceptable in Singapore’s multi-racial and multi-religious society.

MOH. KHORY ALFARIZI

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