HTI to File Petition against New Bill on Mass Organizations

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) expressed its opposition against the issuance of Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) No. 17/2013 on mass organizations. HTI with lawyer Yusril Ihza Mahendra are planning to file a petition against the recently issued bill with the Constitutional Court.

“We’ll file a petition against the Perppu with the Constitutional Court,” HTI spokesperson Ismail Yusanto told Tempo on Wednesday, July 12, 2017.

Read: Wiranto Announces New Bill on Mass Organizations

Ismail views that the government has shown a bad example in complying the law. In addition to rejecting the reason behind the drafting of the new bill, HTI alleged that the drafting of the Perppu was a shortcut to disband mass organizations.

“Since the law prevents [the government to disband mass organizations], they drafted a Perppu. Meanwhile, there’s no objective reason to issue the Perppu, urgency and legal vacuum,” he added.

Read: Jokowi in Possession of Mass Organization Disbandment Regulation

Although Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto did not explicitly mention which mass organizations to be disbanded, Ismail said that the government has no legal basis to disband his organization.

“HTI is a legal religious organization, and in accordance with its mission, we have spread [Islamic] teachings peacefully. We don’t break any laws, so why are we being disbanded?” Ismail said.

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