FPI Writes to Prabowo to Withdraw from BoP: We Trust the President, Not the US or Israel

JAKARTA — The Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) is pressing Indonesia to withdraw from the Board of Peace (BoP), the initiative launched by United States President Donald Trump. Hanif Alatas, secretary of the FPI’s DPP Shura Council, said the request was conveyed in a letter addressed to President Prabowo Subianto. ‘So although we did not have a chance to speak earlier, we officially sent the letter to the president. We ask Indonesia to pull out from BoP,’ Hanif said after a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Thursday, 5 March 2026. He said that in this matter, FPI believes Prabowo has good intentions in taking Indonesia to BoP. ‘The president spoke at length, saying a lot. The gist is that he wants Indonesia’s presence in the Board of Peace to be able to do more for Palestine,’ he said. However, FPI insists Indonesia withdraw from BoP because it does not trust the motives of the United States and Israel, who are also members of the organisation. Hanif said that during the meeting the President Prabowo asserted that he would step back from the Board of Peace if there is no benefit for Palestine. But he stressed that Indonesia should withdraw now because the US cannot be trusted. ‘But we do not need to wait for that, from now on. It has long been proven that America cannot be trusted,’ he added. In addition, FPI also asked Prabowo to personally extend condolences regarding the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He added that FPI leader Rizieq Shihab also urged Indonesia to support and defend Iran, whose sovereignty is currently being attacked by the US and Israel. ‘He is being targeted in areas of sovereignty. As we oppose colonialism on Earth, I think Iran’s stance to defend its sovereignty should be supported,’ he added. Hanif said that FPI would support the deployment of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) to Gaza if the aim is to liberate Palestine. ‘If sent to Gaza to liberate Palestine, we will support and even back volunteers. But if sent to Gaza under American command and disarming Palestinian fighters, leading to confrontation, this is what we do not want,’ he said.