TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta-based human rights watchdog Setara Institute chairman Hendardi expressed his support for National Police Chief General Tito Karnavian who is planning to disband Islamic group Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI). Hendardi said that the plan is an appropriate legal move as long as the judicial process is followed.

Hendardi said that he agrees with Tito’s reasoning as saying that HTI should be disbanded for disrupting order, having a potential to cause social conflicts and threatening state ideology Pancasila.

According to Hendardi, the idea of caliphate promoted by the HTI is a political and governmental system that contradicts with the Pancasila.

“Studies and practices in various countries show that the caliphate ideology with its exclusive religious belief, extremism or accusing another of apostasy has caused strong tensions among the people,” Hendardi said today in a press release.

Hendardi pointed to examples in other countries that have banned the organization, such as Jordan and Iraq. Even though HTI has not committed physical violence, Hendardi said that the ideology has massively and systematically won the hearts of some Indonesians.

The organization has exerted its influence in campuses and mosque congregations. It is also believed that HTI poses a threat to diversity, democracy and Pancasila. The idea to ban the HTI would be an experimental implementation of the doctrine of the margin of appreciation in the human rights discipline, Hendardi said.

Hendardi said that the state is entitled to limit the HTI activities in Indonesia considering the group’s opposition to the laws. By limiting its activities, Hendardi suggested, the followers of HTI religious and political beliefs will not be prosecuted.

LARISSA HUDA