Regretting Jozeph Paul Zhang's Actions Confessing The 26th Prophet, Deputy Minister Of Religion: It Hurts The Feelings Of Muslims

Deputy Minister of Religion Zainut Tauhid Saadi (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - A number of Islamic figures and organizations have condemned the actions of Jozeph Paul Zhang, a man who claims to be the 26th prophet through a viral video on his YouTube channel.

Deputy Minister of Religion Zainut Tauhid Sa'adi admitted that he deeply regretted the actions of Jozeph Paul Zhang who deliberately spread hatred and enmity towards Muslims.

"What was said really hurt the feelings of Muslims and could create a situation that disturbed the harmony of religious life in Indonesia," Zainut said in his statement on Sunday, April 18.

Separately, Deputy Chairperson of the Indonesian Ulema Council, Anwar Abbas, asked the public to believe that the police should immediately take legal steps so that the allegations of blasphemy committed by Jozeph do not spread anywhere.

"We'll just wait and I'm sure that in the not too distant future the police will be arrested and secured. The National Police Chief in this matter clearly will not allow certain people and parties to insult and demean the prophet and other people's religions. , "said Anwar.

Secretary General of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board Helmy Faisal Zaini asked Muslims to remain calm and not be proclaimed to do things that are outside the corridors of the applicable law.

"Let us always keep the holy month of Ramdan in wise and wise ways. One of them is to respect and respect the beliefs of religious communities," he said.

For information, Bareskrim Polri investigators took Interpol to hunt down Jozeph Paul Zhang's whereabouts. Kabareskrim Polri, Komjen Pol Agus Andrianto, said that from the start, he suspected Jozeph Paul Zhang was not in Indonesia.

Therefore, his party coordinated with the immigration authorities who knew the data on the crossing of Jozeph Paul Zhang had left Indonesia since January 2018. However, continued Agus, this did not prevent his party from exploring the case and was preparing investigative documents.

"The investigation mechanism will continue even though the person concerned is abroad," said Agus.

Agus said that Bareskrim Polri was cooperating with foreign police and made a wanted list (DPO) for Jozeph Paul Zhang so that he could be deported from the country where he was.

"The cooperation mechanism for the foreign police can work, whether the country where he is concerned lives to deport him. The DPO will be issued later," said Agus.

Regarding whether the National Police had received reports from the public about the viral video of religious blasphemy by Jozeph Paul Zhang claiming to be the 26th prophet, Agus explained that investigators could take action by reporting findings related to the intolerant content.

According to him, intolerant content that creates social conflict and community unrest can damage unity and can be prosecuted according to the Chief of Police's Circular (SE).