Rizieq: Don't Think That A Moral Revolution Is An Armed Revolution And Rebellion
JAKARTA - The Grand Imam of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) Rizieq Shihab again spoke about the moral revolution. Rizieq said that his call for a moral revolution did not mean that he was inviting his supporters to rebel or take up arms.
The moral revolution, he said, is an effort to improve things in Indonesia through dialogue with various parties, including the government.
"So don't anyone think that the moral revolution is a weapon revolution, a revolt revolution. It's not true," said Rizieq during the National Dialogue of 100 Ulama and Figures which was broadcast online on Front TV, Wednesday, December 2.
As a scholar, Rizieq emphasized that he had no intention of carrying out a rebellion. Moreover, the teachers educate every habib and ulama must recognize the legitimate government.
"But we are objective. Policies are good, good, we have to appreciate, accept and implement them. As for policies that are not popular, endanger the safety of the nation and state, oppress, we must criticize them," he said.
He also reminded that criticism should not be interpreted as treason or rebellion.
"So we remind you, that the moral revolution should not be described as a bloody revolution, treason, rebellion, overthrowing the legitimate government. Not so. We open ourselves, dialogue, reconciliation. Let's be open and criticize each other," he said.
"Except in the context of habib and ulama, Muslim kiai were massacred, genocide. That is in the context of self-defense. In religious and international law it is permissible," he added.
Rizieq emphasized that the moral revolution is really needed at this time and must be the focus. This is because many things need to be improved at this time, starting from law enforcement, the political system, to improving the economic system.
In terms of legal reform, a moral revolution is needed because currently the enforcement is felt to be sharp downward and blunt upward. "This is an emergency," he said.
"How law enforcement today is uncivilized, full of fabrications, torture, and sharp to critical parties but blunt to buzzers who are immune to the legal system. Remember Indonesia is a country of law, not power," he added.
In the political system, a moral revolution is needed in order to change the politics of dividing bamboo and fighting one another in the politics of unity. This revolution, he continued, is also necessary to move from the liberal system to the political system of deliberation and consensus that has been built by the country's founders.
Finally, this moral revolution must also change the economic system from usury to non-usury. "From development that relies on debt to development that focuses on the people's economy. From an oligarchic, capitalistic economy to an economy with social justice," he concluded.