Muslim activists condemn FPI's violent raids<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Muslim activists condemned on Thursday the raids
\non various entertainment centers conducted by the Islamic
\nDefenders Front (FPI), saying that the group did not represent
\nthe whole Muslim community.<\/p>\n
Executive of the Muhammadiyah Muslim Youth Association (PP
\nMuhammadiyah) Nadjamuddin Ramly said the violence committed by
\nFPI members in the name of religion was unacceptable.<\/p>\n
\"What they do by raiding entertainment centers, destroying
\nproperty and injuring people, is purely criminal,\" Nadjamuddin
\ntold The Jakarta Post by phone.<\/p>\n
\"Police should arrest the people who commit such acts,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Nadjamuddin also said that the FPI's actions had damaged the
\nimage of Muslims.<\/p>\n
\"The FPI scares off even Muslims themselves,\" he claimed.<\/p>\n
He said that PP Muhammadiyah, the youth wing of the country's
\nsecond largest Muslim organization, disagreed with the way the
\nFPI members raided nightspots which they considered to be running
\nsinful businesses.<\/p>\n
Nadjamuddin said that even though the city administration had
\nissued a regulation which required saunas, nightclubs,
\ndiscotheques and arcades to close during the Muslim fasting month
\nof Ramadhan, many still ignored the regulation.<\/p>\n
\"But the FPI should report such violations to the authorities
\ninstead of raiding the nightspots,\" Nadjamuddin said.<\/p>\n
Following pressure from Muslim groups and six City Council
\nfactions, Governor Sutiyoso announced on Nov. 23 that nightspots
\nwould be closed during Ramadhan, Idul Fitri and Christmas.<\/p>\n
Former chairman of the Indonesian Muslim Students Association
\n(HMI) Ridwan Saidi shared Nadjamuddin's opinion, saying that the
\nFPI attacks had caused losses to businesses which were located
\nnear the targets of the attacks.<\/p>\n
\"Their acts have been scaring off other people and other
\nbusinesses which are not related in any way to the nightspots,\"
\nRidwan said.<\/p>\n
\"If the FPI wants to play rough, they should head off to the
\nbattlefield in the Gaza Strip,\" Ridwan added.<\/p>\n
FPI attacks on nightspots have intensified during Ramadhan
\nfollowing their pledge to burn down nightspots which remain open
\nduring the fasting month.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, a police report said that the group had raided
\nthe MW bar and the Ratu Ayu bar on Jl. Tubagus Angke in Wijaya
\nKusuma subdistrict, West Jakarta, even though the bars had been
\nclosed at the time of the raid.<\/p>\n
The report said that some 300 members of the group, armed with
\ndaggers and swords, had arrived at the two bars about 10:30 p.m.,
\nbroke into them and carried out musical instruments and furniture
\nwhich they then set alight.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Police spokesman Supt. Anton Badrul Alam said the
\npolice had yet to make any arrests over the attack.<\/p>\n
\"We will summon the FPI chief for a talk,\" Anton told
\nreporters at city police headquarters on Thursday.<\/p>\n
When contacted by the Post, FPI executive Reza Pahlevi said
\nthe bars had only been closed as they had heard about the FPI's
\nplan to attack them.<\/p>\n
\"They were open just moments before we arrived,\" Reza claimed.<\/p>\n
Reza said that the group's members were not afraid of being
\nquestioned by the police over the raids.<\/p>\n
\"These places have been abusing women by turning them into
\nprostitutes but the police never question them. How come?\" Reza
\nasked. (jaw)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/muslim-activists-condemn-fpis-violent-raids-1447893297",
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