Rizieq Shihab Called The Legal Case For Ahok's Revenge For Failing To Become Governor

JAKARTA - Former High Imam of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) Rizieq Shihab believes that the alleged crowd case and violation of health protocols that ensnared him were acts of revenge with political elements. This was concluded after he went through the long process of the case that entangled him.

Rizieq made this statement when reading a defense note or pledoi during the trial of the crowd case at Megamendung at the East Jakarta District Court, Wednesday, May 20.

"After I followed this tiring legal process, starting from the police summons and arrest and detention, to holding trials to reading the pledoi," said Rizieq during a trial at the East Jakarta District Court.

"I increasingly believe and believe that this is a political case wrapped and packaged with legal cases so that the law is only a means of legalization and justification to fulfill the oligarchic political grudge against me and my friends," he continued.

The revenge action, said Rizieq, was related to the failure of Basuki Tjahaja Purnama alias Ahok to become Governor of DKI Jakarta for the second time. This is because Rizieq and his friends were the strongest to reject Ahok.

Rizieq said that he did this because Ahok had insulted Islam. In addition, Ahok is also seen as an arrogant and corrupt figure, often speaks harsh and dirty words.

In fact, Ahok is considered an extension of the oligarchs. So, due to this rejection, Ahok failed to become the Governor of DKI Jakarta, who at that time was paired with Djarot Saiful Hidayat.

"From then on, my friends and I became targets of criminalization, so that throughout 2017 various cases of engineering were addressed to us," said Rizieq.

Previously, Rizieq Shihab was charged with 10 months in prison for the alleged crowd and violation of the health protocol (prokes) in Megamendung. Rizeq was also fined Rp. 50 million, a subsidiary of 3 months in prison.

Rizieq is considered to have violated Article 93 of Law number 6 of 2018 concerning Health Quarantine or Article 14 paragraph (1) of Law number 4 of 1984 concerning Infectious Disease Outbreaks or Article 216 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.