Ustaz Abdul Somad Refused To Enter Singapore, This Is Mahfud MD

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD/PHOTO: Dafi VOI

BADUNG - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD responded to the refusal of Ustaz Abdul Somad (UAS) to enter Singapore for vacation. Mahfud said the policy was in Singapore, although he admitted that he did not know exactly what the problem was.

"We'll see how it develops, it's a policy or law that applies in Singapore. We don't know what the rules are and what the problem is. But of course we will find out because of the rule of law in a country, we can't interfere, just like Singapore can't get involved. interfere with the law in Indonesia," said Mahfud in Nusa Dua, Badung, Bali, Wednesday, May 18.

He emphasized that Singapore should not interfere with legal affairs in Indonesia. Mahfud gave an example when Singapore made an anti-smoke law which stated that it could catch forest fire perpetrators in Indonesia.

"In 2015 he drafted the anti-smoke law at that time. He stated that the Singaporean authorities could arrest the forest fires (in Indonesia), that's the law they made, we reject it. have their own affairs, rule of law in the territorial area. Therefore, the territorial principle applies," said Mahfud.

"How about the case of Ustadz Abdul Somad, we don't know yet because Singapore's actions are not left to the Indonesian government. But the Singaporean government is not allowed to enter, now we can't interfere before we know what the problem is, we'll wait," continued Mahfud.

According to Mahfud, there has been no communication from the Singaporean authorities to the Indonesian government regarding the ban on UAS to Singapore.

"No (communication) for every country is like that, in many countries it is like that. If it is communicated diplomatically it may take a long time, maybe only after that it is informed, maybe yes. But that depends on Singapore law," he said.

"There is no step forward. This is not a matter of Indonesian law, it is a matter of Singapore's law. We, already have our own laws, Singapore (also) cannot arbitrarily violate Indonesia's territorial territory as well as us," said Mahfud.

As previously reported, Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs explained the reasons for banning Abdul Somad Batubara from entering its sovereign territory, one of which was because the Indonesian cleric was considered to be spreading extremist teachings and divisions.

"Somad is known to spread extremist teachings and divisions, which are unacceptable in Singapore's multiracial and multi-religious society," said Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs in a written press statement responding to a diplomatic note sent by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding Abdul Somad's refusal to enter. May.

The statement explained the example of Ustaz Abdul Somad preaching that suicide bombings were legal in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and were considered a "martyrdom" operation.

“He also made derogatory comments about members of other religious communities, such as Christians, by describing the Christian cross as the abode of 'pagan jinn'. In addition, Somad openly refers to non-Muslims as infidels," the ministry said.

The Singapore government asserts that the entry of foreign visitors into its territory cannot be automated. Each person will be judged on their respective merits, case by case.

“While Somad seeks to enter Singapore under the guise of a social visit, the Singapore government takes seriously anyone advocating violence and/or supporting extremist teachings and divisions. Somad and his travel companions were denied entry to Singapore," the ministry said.