Who Is Habib Bahar Bin Smith The Person Who Was Reported To The Police For Suspicion Of Racial Intolerance

Bahar bin Smith (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - Bahar bin Smith or Habib Bahar was reported to Metro Jaya Police for allegedly spreading information aimed at causing hatred or hostility to individuals and groups based on SARA or insulting the state authorities. As we know, this is not the first case he has ever faced. Who is Habib Bahar, this controversial figure?

Citing a VOI article entitled "Police Say There Are Two Habib Bahar Smith Reports Regarding SARA", the police said there were two reports received by Metro Jaya Police regarding Bahar bin Smith alias Habib Bahar. Both reports are related to SARA. Head of Public Relations of Metro Jaya Police, Kombes E. Zulpan, stated that there were two reports with different reporting and dates.

"The first (reporting) December 7, 2021, was reported by two people, Eggi Sudjana and Bahar Smith. Then December 17, which was reported by Bahar Smith", said Zulpan.

When discussing in detail the context of the hate speech related to the Army Chief of Staff (KSAD), General Dudung Abdurachman, Zulpan stated that he could not convey it. The reason is that the investigation team is still investigating the connection.

"Investigators are investigating, it is clear that there are reports", said Zulpan. "There is a report so the reporter brings authentic evidence regarding the submission of the person they report on social media with sentences that cause hostility, hate speech, and SARA".

This case is not the first time that Habib Bahar has faced. Habib Bahar several times stumbled upon cases that required him to be in prison. His attitude, which seems fierce and arrogant, also often attracts public attention.

Bahar bin Smith (Photo: Antara)

Who is Bahar bin Smith?

Bahar bin Smith is a man born in Manado on July 23, 1985. He has 4 children from his marriage to Fadlun Faisal Balghoits in 2009. He studied at the Darullughah Wadda'wah Islamic Boarding School in Bangil, Pasuruan, East Java.

In 2007, Bahar Smith founded the Prophet's Defender Council in Pondok Aren, South Tangerang City. Bahar Smith is also the founder of the Tajul Alawiyyin Islamic Boarding School in Kemang, Bogor.

Quoting Sindo, Habib Bahar is often closely guarded by the Islamic Defenders Army and the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) when giving lectures. Habib Bahar is also known as one of the leading figures in the action that demanded that Basuki Tjahaja Purnama alias Ahok be tried for his statement which was considered insulting to Islam while he was still the Governor of DKI Jakarta.

Cases and controversy

Habib Bahar is also known to often lead sweeps against things that are considered immoral. In Ramadan 2012, Habib Bahar mobilized about 150 of his followers to carry out a sweeping action at De Most Cafe, Jalan Veteran Raya, Bintaro, Pesanggrahan, South Jakarta. The mob who carried out the sweeping equipped themselves with weapons. In fact, sharp weapons are specially made such as four swords made a week before sweeping.

The police, who received information that there was a sweeping action at the De Most Cafe, immediately took security because it was known that the masses wanted to continue their sweeping action to Ciledug. Their action was blocked by joint officers from the Tangerang Police, Pondok Aren Police, Pondok Aren Koramil 19, and Pondok Aren Civil Service Police Unit. The sweeping mob, including Habib Bahar, was arrested after carrying out the sweeping action.

Bahar bin Smith (Screenshot Youtube @Refly Harun)

In November 2018, Habib Bahar was reported to the police for insulting Indonesian President Joko Widido (Jokowi). He called 'Jokowi seems like a sissy' during a lecture.

"When you meet Jokowi, when you meet Jokowi, you take off your pants, maybe Jokowi's menstruation is like a sissy", said Bahar bin Smith.

On July 9, 2019, Bahar Smith was sentenced to 3 years in prison for allegedly molesting two teenagers. The persecution was carried out at an Islamic boarding school in Kampung Kemang, Bogor, on Saturday, December 1 2018 at 11.00 WIB with two other people.

Habib Bahar was then released on May 16, 2020, based on the regulation of the Minister of Law and Human Rights Number 10 of 2020 regarding the Assimilation Conditional Release Program of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights related to COVID-19. Bahar bin Smith is also known to obey the rules while in prison.

However, not long after his release, Habib Bahar's assimilation program was revoked. According to Habib Bahar's lawyer, Aziz Yanuar, his client was considered to have violated the provisions in assimilation while conducting a lecture that was held sometime after his release.

"We suspect this is related to his lecture because the lecture on Saturday night went viral and deeply offended the authorities", Aziz Yanuar quoted Kompas as saying.

Bahar bin Smith is also known to have violated PSBB rules because he held activities that invited many people. He held a lecture that was attended by many people and did not practice social distancing.

Some time ago, Habib Bahar's lecture was also viral on social media. At that time, he was giving a lecture in the Bekasi area and during the lecture, Habib Bahar threatened to kill the Kiai and ulama who betrayed Rizieq Shihab.

The threat was conveyed by Bahar departing from the case of Rizieq Shihab which was picked up by many of his followers. Rizieq was imprisoned for violating health protocols. However, according to Aziz Yanuar, Habib Bahar's threats were only aimed at Habib, Kiai, ulama, and Muslim followers of Rizieq. "The warning from Habib Bahar is for our internal HRS (Rizieq) fans. lovers of HRS and Habib Bahar. For Habib Bahar, the most expensive thing is loyalty and the most hated is betrayal", said Aziz.

*Read other information about FPI or read other interesting articles from Putri Ainur Islam.

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