Leader of hardline Muslim group FPI under probe by Indonesia police for blasphemy
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Leader of hardline Muslim group Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) Rizieq Shihab walking to meet the call of the Criminal Investigation Police during an investigation of Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahja Purnama in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Nov 3, 2016.
PHOTO: REUTERS
JAKARTA (JAKARTA POST/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Jakarta police will soon question witnesses as part of the blasphemy case implicating the leader of hardline Muslim group, the Islam Defenders Front (FPI).
The move came after a court ruled on Tuesday that it will proceed with a blasphemy trial against Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, better known by his nickname Ahok.
Firebrand FPI cleric Rizieq Shihab had been reported by two student associations for remarks he made in a sermon, the video of which has been distributed on the internet.
"We will question a number of witnesses such as information technology experts, crime experts, religious experts and others," said Jakarta Police spokesman, Senior Commander Raden Argo Yuwono as reported by tribunnews.com on Wednesday (Dec 28).
A case review will be carried out after the questioning of the witnesses, he added.
Rizieq was reported by the Indonesian Catholic Students Association (PMKRI) and Students Peace Institute (SPI) to the Jakarta Police after a video of the sermon was uploaded onto Twitter and Instagram.
In the 22-second-long video, Rizieq is recorded as saying: "If God gave birth, then who would be the midwife?"
Similar to Ahok, Rizieq is also accused of violating Article 156 section (a) of the Criminal Code on blasphemy. The charge carries a maximum punishment of five years in prison.
Asked if the case review of the Rizieq case would be carried out openly like Ahok's case review, Argo said that it would be up to the investigators.
"Just wait for the investigation into the case," said Argo, telling those who reported Rezieq to the police to be patient while the police were carrying out the investigation.
Rizieq was a prominent figure in massive demonstrations held recently in Jakarta to demand a police investigation into Ahok's alleged blasphemy.
