Fadli Zon Considered Approaching Ramadan The Right Moment To Release Rizieq Shihab

DOC. ANTARA/Rizieq Shihab while detained at Metro Jaya Police

JAKARTA - Gerindra Party politician Fadli Zon urged the government to release the leader of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) Rizieq Shihab. Fadli Zon said now is the right moment to free Rizieq Shihab ahead of the month of Ramadan.

"This is the right moment to immediately free HRS ahead of Ramadan," said Fadli as quoted from his Twitter account @fadlizon, Friday, March 12.

He considered that Rizieq Shihab should be released because the case in which he was involved was laden with political content rather than law enforcement. In addition, Fadli Zon assessed that the case that ensnared Rizieq regarding crowds in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic was also treated disproportionately.

"There are already many examples of crowds but only HRS cases were treated disproportionately," he said.

"What legacy will be left behind, while power will definitely change," added this member of the House of Representative (DPR).

Previously reported, Rizieq Shihab was named a suspect in the crowd case in Petamburan, Central Jakarta in mid-November 2020. In this case, Rizieq was suspected of Article 160 of the Criminal Code regarding the incitement of the Health Security Law.

Regarding this case, through his attorney Rizieq submitted a pretrial application for his detention and arrest in a crowd case in Petamburan, Central Jakarta. This pretrial is registered at number 11/Pid.Pra/2021/PN.Jkt.Sel. The defendant parties were the National Police's Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim Polri) and Metro Jaya Police.

Even so, this case will be tried soon. According to the plan, Rizieq and five other former FPI officials will undergo trial on Tuesday, March 16 with the composition of the panel of judges Suparman Nyompa, M Djohan Arifin, Agam Syarief Baharudin. The case is registered under the number 221/Pid.B/2021/PN.Jkt.Tim.

In this case, Rizieq was charged with five charges, among others, Article 160 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 99 of Law number 6 of 2018 concerning Health Quarantine in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st of the Criminal Code.

Or, Article 216 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st of the Criminal Code, or the third Article 93 of Law number 6 of 2018 concerning Health Quarantine in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st of the Criminal Code.

Then, article 14 paragraph (1) of Law number 4 of 1984 concerning Outbreaks of Infectious Diseases jo Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st of the Criminal Code. Or finally Article 82A paragraph (1) jo 59 paragraph (3) letters c and d Law number 16 of 2017 concerning Stipulation of Government Regulations in Lieu of Law number 2 of 2017 concerning Amendments to Law number 17 of 2013 regarding Community Organization to Law jo Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st KUHP jo Article 10 letter b KUHP jo Article 35 paragraph (1) KUHP.

Meanwhile, the trial for five high-ranking FPI officials, namely, Haris Ubaidillah, Ahmad Sabri Lubis, Ali Alwi Alatas, Idrus alias Idrus AL-Habsyi, and Maman Suryadi was registered with number 222/Pid.B/2021/PN.Jkt.Tim.

They were charged with using the same criminal article and panel of judges as Rizieq Shihab. In addition, Rizieq Shihab, Muhammad Hanif, and Andi Tatat will also undergo trials over cases suspected of obstructing the work of the COVID-19 Task Force. This trial was held on the same day.