MUI Forms Anwar Abbas Defense Team To Face Panji Gumilang's Lawsuit

Deputy Secretary General of MUI Muhammad Azrul Tanjung. (ANTARA/HO-MUI)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has formed a team to defend MUI Deputy Chairperson Anwar Abbas in dealing with a civil lawsuit case filed by Al Zaytun Panji Gumilang.

"The MUI has formed a team to defend him. Until now, support continues to flow, especially those who work as legal advisors," said MUI Deputy Secretary General Muhammad Azrul Tanjung as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, July 31.

Panji Gumilang previously sued Anwar Abbas and MUI because he felt cornered. Anwar Abbas was sued for paying compensation of IDR 1 trillion.

Pengacara Panji Gumilang, Hendra Efendi, mengatakan gugatan tersebut dilakukan karena MUI dan Anwar Abbas diduga telah melakukan perbuatan tidak hukum dengan melakukan tuduhan yang hanya berdasarkan potongan video di TikTok.

Azrul stated that the components of Muslims were at the forefront of defending Anwar Abbas. Even the Muhammadiyah Youth Force (AMM) is ready to oversee the case.

Meanwhile, the Head of the MUI for Information and Communication, Masduki Baidlowi, said that Anwar Abbas's actions in the context of clarifying were not intended as alleged by Panji Gumilang.

Masduki stated that Anwar Abbas was an Islamic fighter who acted to protect the community for the sake of Islam.

MUI, he said, had prepared a legal process team to deal with these demands. "We from MUI have prepared a team related to the legal process," he said.

Previously, investigators from the Directorate of General Crimes (Dittipidum) of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police sent a second summons to the reported criminal act of blasphemy Panji Gumilang for examination as a witness on Tuesday (1/8).

Bareskrim said that his party had summoned Panji Gumilang as a witness on Thursday (27/7). However, the person concerned did not attend on the grounds of illness.