Behind Rizieq Shihab's Statement 'State Of Lies' Highlighted By PDIP

Rizieq Shihab/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - Former Grand Imam of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) Rizieq Shihab was released on parole from the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police on Wednesday, July 20. Rizieq immediately held a press conference and told about the process of his release.

Rizieq explained that he did not announce the day of his freedom because he was worried that there would be violations in the process of his parole administration. Even so, Rizieq must report and follow the guidance of the Central Jakarta Penitentiary (Bapas) while undergoing the parole program before being released purely next year.

There was something interesting in a press statement held by Rizieq in Petamburan, Jakarta. Rizieq touched on the issue of an emergency state of lies. Initially, Rizieq stated that he would continue the struggle to revolutionize morality.

"As I have said when I arrived in the country when I returned from the holy city of Mecca, that is, let's keep repeating it, namely the moral revolution, the moral revolution in a moral way," Rizieq said in a press conference broadcast live via YouTube account the Islamic Brotherhood Television (IBTV), Wednesday, July 20.

Rizieq then mentioned the condition of the country that was damaged. According to him, the emergency of lies has become entrenched in this country. "How do we have a country where there is damage, everywhere there is evil, Brother, then lies have become entrenched and our country is in an emergency of lies," he explained. I want to convey here, Brother, what is an emergency for lies, what is an emergency for corruption, what is an emergency for injustice, what is a debt emergency, what is an economic emergency, and so on, so the key is, let's solve all of this together with the revolution of morals," continued Rizieq.

PDIP highlighted

Senior PDIP politician Hendrawan Supratikno highlighted Rizieq Shihab's statement about an emergency state of lies. According to him, the statement was just a repetition of what Rizieq had previously said. However, he mentioned the characteristics of a hypocrite.

"It's just a repetition with new rhetoric. In 1977, Mochtar Lubis already stated that one of the characteristics of Indonesian people is hypocrisy," Hendrawan told reporters, Wednesday, July 20. "I also mentioned that the toughest problem of our nation is to institutionalize pretense," he said.

The DPR member also asked that pretense be made a common challenge, not accusing certain groups. "So this is our challenge together, not an accusation for a particular group. So it applies to 'us', not to judge 'them'," said Hendrawan.

Nevertheless, Hendrawan considered Rizieq's statement to be accepted as a reminder. He agreed with Rizieq's moral revolution. He said it was an important program toward a new paradigm.

"So we accept it as a reminder so that we don't like to scapegoat other people, as well as sanctify ourselves," explained Hendrawan.

"(But) Regarding the moral revolution and mental revolution, we agree, and it becomes an important program in the transformation of our nationality, in the process of moving from the 'old paradigm' to the 'new paradigm'," he continued.

Lawyer Reveals Rizieq's Meaning About the State of Emergency Lies

Rizieq Shihab's lawyer, Aziz Yanuar explained his client's statement about the state of lies after being released on parole. According to him, the emergency of lying mentioned is when the statement does not match the facts of the truth.

"A lie is one says something but does not match the facts and is not proven to be true," Aziz told reporters, Wednesday, July 20. He only emphasized that Rizieq also did not intend to direct the statement to insinuate someone's personality.