FPI`s Rizieq Defends Self against Blasphemy Allegations
29 December 2016 13:46 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Medan - The Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) leader Rizieq Shihab said that reports being made against him for blasphemy were misdirected.
Speaking in a press conference on December 28, which was attended by North Sumatra Police chief Insp. Gen. Rycko Amelza Dahniel, Rizieq explained that the subject matter being reported relates to religious dogma, adding that it cannot be made as a reason to report him to police.
Rizieq said that each religion has unique beliefs. For example, Christians believe in the Trinity and Muslims believe that God does not have children and parents.
Rizieq, however, said that he is aware that anyone can make any report so long as they have the evidence.
“I believe that anyone can make any report over anything considered as violating the law in the country. But the evidence have to be complete and not edited,” Rizieq said.
Rizieq had earlier been reported to police by the Indonesian Catholic Students Association (PMKRI). They had accused Rizieq of blasphemy for saying, “If God has a child, who was the midwife?” Rizieq’s remarks were made on December 25 in a speech in Pondok Kelapa, East Jakarta. A video footage of the speech has been going rounds on social media.
IIL ASKAR MONDZA