National Police Forms Special Taskforce to Investigate FPI’s Rizieq

The jakarta Globe, July 26, 2013.


The national police confirmed on Thursday that it set up a special task force to investigate the leader of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) for comments made earlier in the week in which he called President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono a “loser.”

“The chief of the criminal investigation division has established an investigation team under orders from the National Police chief,” National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Ronny F. Sompie said, as quoted by the Antara news agency on Thursday. “The National Police has decided to directly investigate the issue without waiting for a report [to be filed] because it concerns our country’s highest leader.”

On Monday, president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono posted a status on his Facebook timeline asking the FPI to refrain from using violence after a woman was killed in a raid the organization conducted in Central Java.

“I call on my brothers in the FPI to stop their use of violence and taking justice in their own hands,” Yudhoyono said. “The way to fight sinful activities and religious deviants should not be done by doing something that is more deviant. I’m sure the FPI can do many things that are better and more useful for the people and our society.”

FPI quickly responded to Yudhoyono’s statement by publishing chairman Rizieq Shihab’s comment on its website.

“It’s a pity. SBY appears to be. . .a mere loser who likes spreading lies and remaining silent about sinful activities. Not to mention, he’s been protecting the Ahmadiyah and [individuals involved in] various corruption scandals. This Muslim president is a disgrace to Islamic teachings,” Rizieq’s statement said.

Rizieq said that Yudhoyono can criticize the FPI all he wants.

“Because SBY is the chairman of the most corrupt party, he is causing people to lose and suffer. Worse than that, according to Yudhoyono’s former minister, President SBY never prays. Those two points mean he’s not only hurting Islam, but betraying Islam.”

Ronny said that the special investigation team will collect all of Rizieq’s statements, both in print and on online, to construct a legal case.


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