Former Lawyer of Rizieq Shihab Slams `Aksi 212` for Being Cruel

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Kapitra Ampera, the former lawyer of Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) leader Rizieq Shihab, maintained that he and a number of Islamic boarding school leaders will submit a permit to run an event rivaling the Aksi 212 reunion on December 2. 

According to Kapitra, the event will be dubbed ‘212 contemplation and enlightenment’; “The event will be held in the same location and at the same time with the 212 reunion,” said Kapitra today on November 28. 

Kapitra revealed that he was driven to create another event after he deemed the 212 reunion had deviated from its original purpose which upheld the teachings of Islam. 

Read: Jakarta Police Set Up Security Plan for 212 Grand Reunion 

He maintains that the current 212 Reunion is nothing more than an event commemorating a person’s crime, even though the person is currently serving prison time. “That reason alone for us is too cruel. [Based on the current 212 reunion] it’s as though Islam is pictured as vengeful and filled with anger,” said Kapitra.  

Kapitra is referring to the major rally held on December 2, 2016, that was later known as the Aksi 212, which pressured the impeachment of Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama for blasphemy against Islam. The former governor was eventually found guilty and jailed following public pressure. 

“How would the family of Ahok feel seeing that his crime is commemorated each year? Doesn’t Islam teach us to be forgiving?” asked Kapitra. 

RYAN DWIKY ANGGRIAWAN | ZW