Indonesian police on Monday named an Islamist leader as a suspect in the exchange of pornographic messages and photos, a new legal threat to a cleric who helped organise mass Muslim rallies against Jakarta's former Christian governor.
Habib Rizieq, a firebrand cleric who heads the hardline Islamic Defenders Forum (FPI), has also been made a suspect in a separate investigation over allegations he insulted the secular state ideology in the Muslim-majority nation.
President Joko Widodo appears to be taking a tougher stance against fundamentalism and has said he would not tolerate any individuals or organizations that undermine the secular state ideology "Pancasila", or threaten Indonesia's tradition of pluralism.
Religious and political tensions have soared in the last six months with Islamist-led rallies targeting the Jakarta governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, an ethnic Chinese Christian who was jailed this month for insulting the Koran.
The government recently moved to disband Hizb ut-Tahrir, an Islamist group that calls for a state based on sharia and also backed the protests against Purnama, an ally of Widodo.
Rizieq, who has spent years preaching conservative Islamic values, is accused of violating Indonesia's strict anti-pornography laws by exchanging graphic messages and nude pictures with a woman.
Jakarta police spokesman Argo Yuwono confirmed Rizieq had been made a suspect, meaning the case is likely to go to court.
"The main crime is participating in and transmitting pornographic content," Yuwono said in a telephone text message.
Rizieq's lawyer, Sugitmo Atmo Pawiro, denied the allegations, saying they had been fabricated by supporters of Purnama.
Rizieq is currently overseas after flying to Malaysia and then to Saudi Arabia. He has not returned to Indonesia despite repeated summons for questioning by police.
His lawyer denied that the cleric had fled Indonesia because of his legal troubles.
An FPI spokesman said the legal complaints against Rizieq were "unfounded".
"This has all been engineered to criminalize the clerics," said Novel Bamukmin, head of the FPI's Jakarta chapter.
"The police need to investigate who really produced and distributed that transcript," he said.
Rizieq served prison terms in 2003 and 2008 for violence and disrupting public order.
Reuters
Tue May 30 2017
The leader of the hardline Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) Habib Rizieq talks to reporters at court after the blasphemy trial of Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, also known as Ahok in Jakarta, Indonesia, February 28, 2017. REUTERS/Files
Bau busuk bongkar skru tertanam dalam hidung
Doktor berjaya menemui objek mencurigakan berwarna hitam dalam rongga hidung kanak-kanak itu dan ia disahkan melalui imbasan CT di kepalanya.
[LAPOR LANGSUNG] Letupan baharu menggegarkan Beirut
Rakaman video menunjukkan letupan itu menerangi pinggir bandar selatan yang padat penduduk.
Letupan baharu menggegarkan Beirut
Letupan kuat itu bermula hampir tengah malam dan berterusan hingga Ahad.
#AWANIRingkas 6 Oktober 2024 | 9 AM
Berikut merupakan rangkuman berita setakat 9 pagi, 6 Oktober 2024
1️⃣ Keperluan tenaga boleh baharu
2️⃣ Menjelang Belanjawan 2025
3️⃣ Banjir di Perak dan Selangor
#awaniringkas
1️⃣ Keperluan tenaga boleh baharu
2️⃣ Menjelang Belanjawan 2025
3️⃣ Banjir di Perak dan Selangor
#awaniringkas
KPT akan pastikan capaian internet di IPTA berada di tahap tertinggi - Zambry
KPT sedang berusaha memastikan capaian Internet di semua IPTA berada pada tahap tertinggi.
AWANI Ringkas: Keperluan tenaga boleh baharu
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Enam rakyat Malaysia selamat tiba dari Lubnan, jumlah keseluruhan kini 17 orang dievakuasi
Wisma Putra dalam kenyataan segera memaklumkan, seramai enam orang lagi turut dijadualkan tiba di Malaysia malam ini.
Bekas gabenor New York, anak tiri diserang empat individu
Kedua-dua mangsa mengalami kecederaan di bahagian muka serta badan dan dikejarkan ke hospital untuk menerima rawatan.
Tentera AS lancar serangan di bandar Yaman
AS menyerang 15 sasaran Houthi di kawasan yang dikawal oleh kumpulan yang disokong Iran itu.
Korea Selatan pindahkan 97 rakyatnya dari Lubnan
Kementerian Luar Korea Selatan maklumkan, kesemua mereka tiba di Korea Selatan pada petang Sabtu.