Rizieq Shihab Returns To Indonesia, Mahfud MD: His Rights Must Be Protected

Menko Polhukam Mahfud MD (Angga Nugraha / VOi)

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam), Mahfud MD said that as an Indonesian citizen Rizieq Shihab has the same rights and legal obligations as other citizens.

Thus, the return of the High Imam of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) to the country on Tuesday, November 10 tomorrow, is one of Rizieq's rights and must be protected.

"Because in the past we gave him the right to leave, not because we asked him to go. Now we want to go home, we give him the right to return home because he is a citizen whose rights must be protected," Mahfud said in a written statement quoted on Monday, November 9.

The former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK) said that the government noted that Rizieq's return was aimed at carrying out a moral revolution and he hoped that this revolution would bring good results. "Therefore, everything must be in order," he said.

"Please pick up but orderly, harmoniously, and peacefully. As suggested by Habib Rizieq. If Habib Rizieq's followers must be good. It must be a moral revolution," he added.

Furthermore, Mahfud also appealed to the authorities to guard Rizieq Shihab's return. He asked that this incident be treated as a matter of course. According to him, there is no need for excessive guarding. "Because there is an increase in the escalation of people picking up, yes, security should be improved," he said.

"But there is no need to overdo it, no repressive actions and everything must be properly guarded until Habib Rizieq arrives at his residence safely," he said.

Previously, Rizieq Shihab announced that he would immediately return to Indonesia on November 9, 2020 using a flight at 19.30 Saudi Arabia time.

HRS and their family plan to return to Indonesia using an airplane with flight number SV-816 and arrive on Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta Airport at 09.00 WIB.

Chairman of the 212 Alumni Brotherhood or PA 212 Slamet Maarif emphasized that Rizieq Shihab has met the health requirements related to his return to the country. The test for COVID-19 is claimed to have had good results.

"Alhamdulillah, it was PCR (examination, red). Safe, God willing," said Slamet to VOI, Sunday, November 8.

Meanwhile, for the procedure to undergo self-quarantine for 14 days after arriving in Indonesia, Slamet could not confirm whether Rizieq would undergo it. Especially two days after landing in Indonesia, Rizieq will be full of activities. "We'll see (about quarantine, red)," he said.