BANGKOK – The hardline Islamic Defenders Front was outlawed by the Indonesian government on Wednesday, and in less than two months after returning from self-imposed exile by its fiery leader Rizik Shihab and promising to lead a “moral revolution” Gave. ”
In a statement signed by top officials and the national police chief, the government said members of the group were engaged in terrorist and criminal acts and activities organized by the group disrupted public order.
Mr Rizik, 55, a cleric who claims to be a descendant of Prophet Muhammad, has been accused of violating the coronavirus protocol by gathering thousands of people. He surrendered to police earlier this month and was sentenced to six years in prison. Days before his arrest, six of his bodyguards were shot and killed by police, what officers said was self-defense. Mr. Rizik is in jail.
The order to disband the group said its government registration expired last year and it is no longer a recognized organization. It is now prohibited to carry out activities and use its logo, which is a triangular symbol with a star in the center and its name is Indonesian and Arabic letters.
The government said 29 members of the group had been convicted of terrorism, but gave no details or evidence. It said 100 had been convicted of other crimes.
Referring to the group, Indonesia’s Minister of Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Mohammed Mahfoud MDA, said that despite the ban, it had no legal status.
A spokesman for the group, Novelty Bamukmin, said members would not be prevented from dissolving the organization, commonly known by its Indonesian acronym, FPI.
“They can disperse the FPI but they do not disperse our struggle to protect the country and religion,” he said. “If we want, we can announce a new Islamic group this afternoon. If it is dismantled, we can constantly create new ones. Registered or not, our existence continues. “
The Islamic Defenders Front was formed in the late 1990’s as military rule drew to a close. At the time, top military commanders formed civilian military groups such as the FPI to help them retain power.
The group soon became known for enforcing its concept of Islamic law by sabotaging bars, persecuting rival sects and attacking gay and lesbian events. Over the years, it expanded its agenda to provide civil rescue services and evolved into a political and social movement, gaining many thousands of followers attracted by Mr. Rizik’s anti-establishment message.
“Given the group’s popularity and the widespread use of its symbols, this order will be difficult to enforce,” said Ian Wills, a senior spokesman for Murdoch University in Perth, Australia, who has followed the group since its inception. “Some will probably abandon it, but it will likely harden others.”
Hours after the announcement, soldiers and police officers arrived at the group’s headquarters in Jakarta and unfurled a large banner depicting Mr. Rizik.
The Saudi-educated Mr. Rizik, who founded the group and remained its most visible leader, has long been the subject of controversy. In 2017, he left Indonesia to face charges of pornography and extramarital affairs and lived in self-imposed exile in Saudi Arabia.
When he returned to Jakarta in November, he was greeted by thousands of supporters and held several large gatherings in the days that followed. He later apologized for violating the coronavirus ban, but it was not enough to keep him out of prison.
Returning to Indonesia, which is officially considered secular, Mr Rizik also challenged the government of President Joko Widodo and promised to push Indonesia towards a more consensual view of Islam.
In his recent sermon, Mr. Rizik accused Mr. Joko and his government of leading the country to crisis because leaders lacked morals. He argues that being a moral person means following Islamic, or Sharia, law.
He also argued that Indonesia should be united under one God, and that Muslims have a majority in Indonesia, so they should have the power to enforce Sharia law and set rules not only for Muslims, but for everyone.
Another radical Islamic group, Hezbollah Tahir, was cracked down on by the government in 2017 for promoting the state on the basis of Sharia law rather than secular principles.
“The FPI is destructive, destructive and intolerant,” said Jajang Jahoroni, a spokesman for Jeddah’s CARF Hideatullah Islamic State University. “It simply came to our notice then. If members are on a troubled street, they should be arrested and taken to court. “
Richard C. Paddock was reported from Bangkok and Dera Menra Sijabat from Jakarta. Mukita Suharto contributed to the reporting from Bangkok.
