TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) leader Rizieq Shihab’s lawyer Kapitra Ampera said that during his stay in Saudi Arabia, his client received the backing of the royal family and other Muslim-majority countries, particularly Turkey.
“The forms of support are various because the brotherhood there is very strong,” Kapitra told Tempo Wednesday in Jakarta. He declined to confirm whether Rizieq was assisted in paying his living costs and helped in extending his visa. According to him, his client paid the cost of living in Saudi Arabia by himself.
Read also: FPI Management Meets Rizieq in Saudi Arabia
Rizieq Syihab, a suspect in a pornography case, will return to Indonesia after Eid al-Fitr. “Alhamdulillah, he is in good condition.”
Kapitra said that he will seek an agreement with the government over legal cases implicating Rizieq Shihab. He said that how the agreement will be reached is not important. “The most important thing is the government has to close all cases of ulema criminalization,” he said.
Jakarta Metro Police have twice summoned Rizieq Syihab in the pornography case, but he failed to comply. The police’s request for a red notice from Interpol to bring Rizieq home has also been declined for lack of grounds.
IRSYAN HASYIM | ENDRI KURNIAWATI
