Police question FPI head over anti-U.S. protest

Emmy Fitri, Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The police questioned Islam Defenders Front (FPI) commander Al Habib Muhammad Rizieq on Monday as a suspect on charges of provocation and denunciation related to last week's anti-U.S. demonstration.

During the demonstration that took place in front of the legislative building, FPI members and police personnel clashed, resulting in dozens of protesters being injured.

"Habib Rizieq is a suspect. He is being questioned over two separate charges of insulting police officers and instigating mass hatred," Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Anton Bachrul Alam said.

The charges, according to the Criminal Code, carry a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment.

Anton added that the police had not yet decided on whether to detain Rizieq.

Police initially claimed that Rizieq had defied the first summons, and they vowed to drag Rizieq in for questioning should he defy a third summons.

Accompanied by his team of lawyers at Monday's questioning, Rizieq said that he had not ignored the police summons, contending that this was the first questioning scheduled for him.

"I watched on TV, and officers said that I would be forcibly dragged in for questioning if I didn't show up. I just received the summons last week and it's clearly stated that this is the first session," he said.

One of his lawyers, Ari Yusuf Amri, said that Rizieq's team of lawyers guaranteed the police that their client would not skip town, and therefore, should not be detained.

"My client is willing to cooperate in the investigation and we will guarantee that he will not run away," Ari said.

Rizieq also said that FPI would file a lawsuit against the police for injuring FPI members during the clashes and also for threatening his group.

The police said they welcomed any lawsuit in the treatment of demonstrators.

The police said the clash between police and FPI members on Oct. 15 occurred as demonstrators had refused to disperse. The police argued that the demonstrators had violated the law banning demonstrations on national holidays.

Oct. 15 was a national holiday, commemorating the Ascension Day of Prophet Muhammad.