Judge Cecar Shabri Lubis Staying At FPI: Did You Get Funds?

Illustration (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The head judge at trial Rizieq Shihab, Suparman Nyompa, asked the reason why Ahmad Shabri Lubis wanted to join the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI). In fact, he was preoccupied with various activities.

This was conveyed by Suparman Nyompa when he asked when has Ahmad Shabri Lubis been the leader of the FPI.

"Since when and how long have you been the head of FPI?", asked the judge to Shabri Lubis during a trial at the East Jakarta District Court, Thursday, May 6.

"I have been since 2015", answered Shabri Lubis who was presented as a witness for Rizieq Shihab.

The judge then asked again. At this point, the question was the reason why Shabri Lubis wanted to join the FPI. In fact, he has a busy life on the educational side.

"Those who are interested to enter there, are you also the leader of the boarding school as well. This means that you are also busy carrying out religious education. What are you interested in joining FPI, is there a vision and mission or do you get funding from FPI?", asked the judge.

Then Shabri Lubis answered that one of the reasons for joining was because FPI was considered to have a noble main task.

Moreover, when he joined the conditions around him were considered immoral or deviating from Islamic teachings.

"I am interested in joining the Islamic Defenders Front because its main task is to amar maruf nahi munkar (enforce right and forbid what is wrong)", said Shabri.

"At that time, in the early days of reform, we saw, yes, maybe in my language the government is losing power in enforcing the law. At that time on the grounds of freedom, on human rights grounds, on the grounds of freedom of expression, gambling everywhere, prostitution everywhere, VCD porn everywhere, drunk everywhere", he continued

Hearing this answer, the judge again questioned why Shabri Lubis was still staying at FPI. In fact, the current conditions are much better than in the reform era.

"That was during the reform period, the beginning of reformation was chaotic everywhere, now the security situation is stable in the 2000s. You are still working at FPI. So what are your reasons for staying?", asked the judge.

However, Shabri did not answer the question firmly. He only said that during joining FPI, he never received a salary.

"The panel of judges that I respect, here FPI in its struggle always follows the rules of state and religious law, so that when the law is in effect, in the process of enforcing the movement we always work side by side with the apparatus. FPI is obliged to make every member sacrifice his life and property in the FPI struggle, so there is no salary at FPI", said Sabri.