Government: Use Of FPI Symbols And Attributes Prohibited

ILLUSTRATION / FPI High Priest Rizieq Shihab with his supporters (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - Apart from banning the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) organization, the government has also prohibited the use of FPI's attributes and symbols.

This was conveyed by Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights Eddy Ommar Sharief Hiariej after the issuance of a Joint Decree (SKB) signed by six ministries and institutions, namely Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, Minister of Communication and Information Johnny G Plate, Chief of Police General Idham Azis, Attorney General ST Burhanuddin, Head of BNPT. Boy Rafli Amar, and Menkumham Yasonna Laoly.

"It is prohibited to carry out activities, the use of FPI symbols and attributes in the jurisdiction of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia," said Eddy at the Office of the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta, Wednesday, December 30.

If in the future there are still violations, then law enforcement officials will take firm action in this regard.

"If there is a violation as described in the dictum above, law enforcement officials will stop all activities carried out by the Islamic Defenders Front," he said.

Eddy also asked the public not to be influenced and involved in activities or the use of FPI symbols and attributes. In addition, the public is also asked to report to law enforcement officials any activities, use of the attributes and symbols of the organization.

Previously reported, the government has banned all activities of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) so that this organization no longer has a legal position as a community organization (ormas) or an ordinary organization.

"The government prohibits FPI activities and will stop any activities carried out by FPI because FPI no longer has a legal standing either as a mass organization or as an ordinary organization," said Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD in a press conference, Wednesday, December 30.

Mahfud explained, de jure, FPI since 20 June 2019 has disbanded as a mass organization. However, FPI as an organization is considered by the government to carry out activities that violate order, security and are against the law.

"Such as acts of violence, sweeping, provocation and so on," said Mahfud MD.

With the prohibition of all FPI activities, the central government has asked local governments to take firm action against activities on behalf of FPI.

"To the central government and local government officials, if there is an organization acting in the name of FPI, it is deemed that it must not exist and must be rejected because there is no legal standing as of today," said Mahfud.