Muslim militant grilled over nightclub violence, vandalism
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Police grilled on Wednesday the chairman of radical religious group Islam Defenders Front (FPI), Al Habib Muhammad Rizieq Shihab, for instigating violence and vandalism against nightspots and entertainment centers here for over three years, a police official said.
Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Anton Bahrul Alam said that Rizieq was questioned as a suspect after police found sufficient evidence of Rizieq's involvement in recent violent raids by FPI members on a discotheque and two billiard centers in Central Jakarta early this month.
"We have sufficient evidence of his involvement in the string of violent raids launched by FPI in the capital. That's why we summoned him as suspect. If he is questioned for more than 24 hours, it simply means that he is being detained," Anton asserted.
Rizieq was questioned since 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday and up to 9:00 p.m., he was still being held in police custody in connection with the ongoing police investigation led by deputy chief of crimes at the police detectives division, Comr. Putu Jayan.
While Rizieq, who was accompanied by lawyer M. Hidayat, was being questioned by police, more than 200 of his supporters staged a rally in front of the Jakarta Police Headquarters. The demonstrators dispersed at 5:30 p.m.
Police have been under mounting pressure to investigate Rizieq amid public criticism that the police appear to be hesitant in taking legal action against the recurrent FPI raids on nightspots and entertainment centers.
Last week, several groups staged rallies urging police to take legal action against FPI as well as called for the dissolution of the group. They asserted that FPI raids on entertainment centers had tarnished the image of Islam.
Police were under renewed pressure from the public following the Bali bombing which claimed nearly 200 lives, mostly foreigners, as speculations are rife that hard-line groups here might be linked to terrorist activities.
However, Anton brushed aside the allegation, asserting that Rizieq's questioning was mainly related to his role in instigating violence and vandalism by FPI members.
Police had reported last week that they planned to question Rizieq. However, according to Anton, due to the need for further preparation, the questioning was adjourned until Wednesday this week.
However, police sources revealed that a police administrative staff member had made a mistake in typing the date of the summons, typing 16 Oct. instead of 9 Oct., in the summons sent to Rizieq. Following the mistake, a senior police investigator assigned to Rizieq's case was transferred to another post.
Two weeks ago, the Central Jakarta Police precinct named eight out of the 13 arrested FPI members as suspects following recent attacks by the organization's members on a number of nightspots and billiard centers in Jakarta on Oct. 4. Two people were injured in the incident.
FPI has launched raids on nightspots and entertainment centers that allegedly also illegally traded drugs and provided services that violated "religious norms" including gambling facilities, alcoholic drinks, and services of sex workers.
According to the Criminal Code, those who deliberately and collectively use overt violence against people or property are subject to maximum five years and six months in prison.
FPI began conducting illegal raids against nightspots and entertainment centers in 2000. The raids had been reported to police but only now the police have decided to take action against them.