TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung refuted claims suggesting that there are attempts from the government to criminalize Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) leader, Rizieq Syihab. He said that the investigation currently ongoing is purely an enforcement effort.
“We’re a lawful state that has a transparent legal proceeding,” Pramono said on Wednesday, May 31. “There are definitely no attempts to criminalize [Rizieq],” he asserted.
Authorities have named Rizieq Syihab as a pornography suspect. He is charged with article 4, 6, and 8 of Law No.44/2008 on Pornography.
Rizieq was allegedly involved in a viral steamy Whatsapp chat with Firza Husein. Firza has already been named as a suspect before Rizieq Syihab was.
Throughout the last couple of weeks, police has summoned Rizieq Syihab for twice for questioning but he never present.
Rizieq Syihab is currently overseas, which is confirmed by his attorney, and has yet to show signs of cooperation with Indonesian authorities.
Police Chief Tito Karnavian previously shared the same sentiment with Pramono Anung. “The allegations of criminalizing clerics that come from a number of Muslim Forums are false because the investigation always complies to the existing legal procedures,” Tito said.
ADITYA BUDIMAN | ARKHELAUS WISNU