TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The lawyer of Rizieq Shihab, Kapitra Ampera, stated many regional head candidates has met his client in Mecca, Saudi Arabia to ask for support and pray. “Many candidates have indeed met Habib Rizieq,” said Kapitra when contacted on Wednesday, March 28.

Kapitra explained the regional head candidates who came to Rizieq are those from four parties namely Gerindra, PAN, PKS, and PBB. According to him, those people believe the leader of Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) still has a huge impact on the society.

Earlier, a governor candidate of Central Java Sudirman Said and a deputy mayor candidate of Bekasi city Nur Supriyanto were reported to meet Rizieq in Saudi Arabia. However, Kapitra reluctant to mention other names who already had an appointment with Rizieq.

Kapitra said, not only to gain support from Rizieq, the candidates also discussed leadership issue from the religious perspective. The candidates, he went on, came in either from their own decision or the party.

He claimed that a number of regions also asked him to make an appointment to meet Rizieq. “A lot of people longing to meet Rizieq, in a day they are about a thousand who came,” Kapitra stated.

As of now, Rizieq Shihab is trying to plan a schedule to head back Indonesia. “He will be back at the right time,” said Kapitra.

IMAM HAMDI