Police to Summon Rizieq for Hammer and Sickle Accusation

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jakarta Metro Police will soon summon the leader of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) Rizieq Shihab in relation to his accusations against the latest series of Rupiah banknotes issued by the government. Rizieq claimed that the new banknotes contain a hammer and sickle symbol, which represents the much-feared National Communist Party (PKI). Rizieq was reported to the Police by Red and White Solidarity Group (Solmet) and the The Anti-Slander Young Intellectual Network (JIMAF).

"We'll summon him soon allegedly claiming that the new Rupiah [banknotes] contain a hammer and sickle symbol," said Jakarta Metro Police Chief Gen. Mochammad Iriawan, on Tuesday, January 17, 2017.

Solmet and JIMAF reported Rizieq under the assumption of spreading hate speech, stating that the newly printed Rupiah contains an image representing a hammer and sickle, commonly associated with the PKI.

The report was made after a video was uploaded by Jumal Ahmad in Youtube. The video was titled "Habib Rizieq: Palu-Arit di Uang Kertas". In the video, Rizieq was seen giving a lecture to the people at Pesantren Alam (the Natural Islamic Boarding School) in West Java.

Rizieq stated that the communist party symbol was printed on the previous series of Rp 100,000 banknote and the symbol made its appearance again in the latest banknotes issued by Bank of Indonesia, specifically in the Rp 2,000, Rp 5,000, and Rp 10,000 banknotes.

According to Iriawan, The Police had already received a direct statement from Bank Indonesia (BI) in relation to the accusation. BI denied that the new rupiah bill contains images of a 'hammer and sickle'.

YOHANES PASKALIS | REZKI ALVIONITASARI