Police detain FPI chairman

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Police detained Islam Defenders Front (FPI) chairman Al Habib Muhammad Rizieq Shihab late on Wednesday night on charges of instigating violence and acts of vandalism, after a team of police investigators questioned the suspect for more than 13 hours.

Rizieq was questioned by police from 9:30 in the morning until 11:45 at night, when police officially announced that Rizieq had been taken into custody.

The FPI chairman was detained for his alleged role in provoking violence and acts of vandalism against nightspots and entertainment centers in the capital over the past three years.

The latest incident took place on Oct. 4, when more than 400 FPI members attacked a discotheque and two billiard centers. Two people were injured in the incident.

Rizieq refused to sign his dossier, saying the police had no legal right to detain him.

"Out of 30 questions, 28 questions revolved around my organization, FPI, while only two questions were about my whereabouts during the latest incident (on Oct. 4)," he said.

Rizieq denied he knew anything about that incident, claiming he was taking care of his sick child at the time.

Police have been under increasing pressure to investigate Rizieq and his group, with the public criticizing the police for failing to stop FPI attacks on nightspots and entertainment centers.

The pressure on the police to take action increased following the Bali bombings that claimed over 180 lives, mostly foreign vacationers, with speculation that hard-line Muslim groups here might be connected to terrorist activities.

FPI has been attacking nightspots since 2000, but it was not until the latest attack that the police took any action against the group.