Must Be Alert! PBNU Says HTI Continues To Maneuvering To Find New Ways To Influence The Community

The Management of the PBNU Institute for Research and Human Resources Development Muhammad Najih Arromadloni or Gus Najih. (ANTARA/HO-PBNU)

JAKARTA - The Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board hopes that the public will not be careless with the movement of radical groups such as Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI). This banned organization is always trying to find new ways to support its propaganda. The management of the PBNU Institute for Research and Human Resources Development Muhammad Najih Arromadloni assessed that the identical radical movement away from local culture and wisdom is now using music concerts and stand-ups comedy to attract public interest at large. "The group carrying the ideology of caliphate such as HTI will continue to move to influence the community and the younger generation, with various forms and maneuvers of movement," said the man who is familiarly called Gus Najih in an official statement in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Tuesday, February 27. He argues that the spirit of moderate and pro-diversity groups to combat caliphate propaganda can use more diverse techniques. The reason is, differentiation in approaching the community can be a powerful way to ward off radicalism. In terms of attracting public interest, Gus Najih said that sometimes moderate groups have not been able to balance it, even though there is an urgency for moderate groups to also be included in the segment of the distribution of the same content. " Moderate groups should not only use traditional or conventional methods, but can also be included in segments that are indeed the favorites of the younger generation," he said. The commemoration of Isra Mi'raj wrapped in a grand event themed “ METamorfoshow: It’s Time to be Ummah ” at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) on Saturday (17/2) is suspected to be a means for banned HTI organizations to gain support and regeneration from the younger generation of Indonesia. About 1,200 young people attended the event. According to Gus Najih, the holding of the Metamorphosshow show shows that HTI is able to package its approach to Indonesian people with more attractive packaging than before. Another thing that is no less important to deal with various radical groups, he continued, is the government's performance through the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kemenkoinfo) to withdraw radical content which actually aims to weaken the image of the country in the eyes of the people. Thus, Gus Najih hopes that the stability of public perceptions can be achieved and the public does not need to be disturbed by various unproductive issues. He also reminded that although HTI has been officially disbanded, various YouTube channels and social media accounts are still actively provoking and making initiatives to the community. HTI and all its derivatives seem to be actively voicing activities that have the potential to violate the law and contain violence. "The government must also take concrete steps through its apparatus, including the Police and the Ministry of Communication and Information to reduce to eliminate all activities and content containing HTI propaganda," said Gus Najih. In X's tweet with the @chanzyeolk account, the Metamorphoshow activity was allegedly attended by former HTI Spokesman Ismail Yusanto, Gen Z Influencer HTI M Ihsan Akbar, and Docusineme Producer of Islamic History ‘ Khilafah Street in Nusantara ’ Akhmad Adiasta.

HTI is a group that is considered by the government to be contrary to the Indonesian state basis, namely Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution. Until finally, HTI was officially dissolved and banned on July 19, 2017 and confirmed by the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkumham).