Action To Reject Rizieq Shihab Held In Medan, His Oration To Reject Nation-Divide Groups

Action against Rizieq Shihab in Medan, Thursday 26 November (Malo M / VOI)

MEDAN - Massa who are members of the Defense Guard (GP) of the Republic of Indonesia rallied in front of the North Sumatra DPRD building in Medan City. They rejected the planned arrival of the Grand Imam of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) Rizieq Shihab.

The demonstration against Rizieq Shihab was escorted by personnel from the Medan Police. The crowd burned tires.

The crowd carried a number of posters with Rizieq Shihab's pictures. They rejected Rizieq Shihab's safari plans, including in Medan.

"We reject groups that want to divide the nation. We emphasize that we as the people of North Sumatra do not want Habib Rizieq to come to North Sumatra," shouted the orator.

"North Sumatra is already conducive, we don't want Habib Rizieq's arrival to make North Sumatra not conducive," continued the orator.

The masses also asked the North Sumatra DPRD to take firm action against groups that took the momentum of Rizieq Shihab's arrival to North Sumatra.

The action coordinator, Muzani, said that Rizieq Shihab's presence could cause a crowd.

"Small crowds are often questioned and dispersed. It is difficult to stem divisions in society," he said.

The masses also considered Rizieq Shihab's statements to be provocative. This is called mass harm.

"There he said the police were guarding the prostitute because of his case with Nikita. He also said that if the police were not firm then we would act," said the action coordinator, exemplifying Rizieq's statement which was called provocative.

Action against Rizieq Shihab in Medan, Thursday 26 November (Malo M / VOI)

Police response to Rizieq Shihab's refusal actions in a number of regions

The National Police did not question Rizieq Shihab's rejection of the preaching safari by Rizieq Shihab in several areas. The reason was that the action was called part of democracy which freed every Indonesian citizen to have an opinion.

"It's okay, it's democratic. We are a democratic country, people want to express their opinion please," said Karo Penmas, Police Public Relations Division, Brigadier General Awi Setiyono to reporters, Wednesday, November 25.

But Awi emphasized that everyone must pay attention to government regulations regarding the prevention of transmission of COVID-19. Therefore, the implementation of health protocols (prokes) is a major requirement during a pandemic.

"What is important, now is the pandemic era, obey health protocols," he said.

Even though he said the rejection was a democratic right, Awi emphasized that he would take action if there was a violation of the prokes. This is according to what is mandated in Presidential Instruction number 6 of 2020 to dissolve it.

"That has already issued a telegram which clearly states that if there is a crowd to disperse, don't let a new COVID-19 cluster occur, that's clear," he said.