FPI leader released from prison<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) chairman Habib Rizieq Shihab was
\nreleased from Salemba Penitentiary in Central Jakarta on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
Rizieq, bearing the title of Habib, a legacy of his ethnic
\nArab heritage and apparent ability to trace his ancestry to
\nIslam's Prophet Muhammad, was released after having served his
\nseven-month sentence in prison.<\/p>\n
He was found guilty of organizing mob attacks on bars and
\nrestaurants in the capital in the past several years. He was also
\nfound guilty of inciting violence and spreading hatred against
\nthe lawful government.<\/p>\n
During sentencing on Aug. 11, Rizieq had already been in
\ndetention for four months.<\/p>\n
FPI's paramilitary wing has become a notorious part of the
\ncity because of their violent raids on night clubs, massage
\nparlors and entertainment centers which they consider to be dens
\nof sin, and thus contrary to Islamic law.<\/p>\n
Upon his release from the penitentiary at 9 a.m., around 500
\nsupporters greeted and accompanied him to parade around the city
\nin open trucks, cars and motorcycles on their way to their
\nheadquarters in Petamburan, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Before cruising around in his Mazda E-200 van, Rizieq briefed
\nhis supporters, telling them to \"continue the struggle to crush
\ncorrupt officials and those who protect immorality.\"<\/p>\n
When asked whether he planned to carry out more raids on night
\nclubs, he said the FPI would only report sinful practices to the
\npolice.<\/p>\n
\"However, we will also monitor whether or not the police take
\naction against those places we informed them about,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He also asserted that FPI had never been dissolved.<\/p>\n
FPI's paramilitary wing was said to have disbanded in the
\naftermath of last year's Bali bombings, but later regrouped and
\nhave not been very active in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Also in his talk he said that he would make an all-out effort
\nto \"save the country's dignity and values\".<\/p>\n
\"The means to that end is by upholding Islamic sharia,\" he
\nasserted, while adding that justice in the country would never be
\nrealized unless the sharia was enforced.<\/p>\n
Rizieq was first detained on Oct. 16 last year but was later
\nreleased. He was rearrested in February after reportedly
\ntraveling to Iraq, apparently with the intent of mobilizing FPI
\nmembers to help that country defend itself against the United
\nStates invasion.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fpi-leader-released-from-prison-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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