Appears To Raise Funds For Rizieq Shihab To Pay Fines, Lawyers: No Need, Only For Palestine

Illustration-Rizieq Shihab in the Petamburan area of Jakarta, Tuesday 10 November (Diah Ayu / VOI)

JAKARTA - Rizeq Shihab's lawyer, Aziz Yanuar, said that raising funds from sympathizers was deemed unnecessary.

Because, until now, the team of lawyers is still considering accepting or appealing the Rp. 20 million fine in cases of violation of the health protocol (prokes) in Megamendung.

"Until now, we are still in the position to consider the appeal or not. So, no one should raise funds for the payment of fines," Aziz told VOI, Friday, May 28.

In addition, Aziz also said that if the decision was to come to an end, then Rizieq Shihab would have handled the issue of the fine. So, investigators do not need to do it.

"If the judge's decision is permanent and Habib Rizieq has to live with it, then it will have been handled properly. So, fundraising is no longer needed," he said.

Instead of raising funds for Rizieq, said Aziz, it is better for the Palestinians who are more in need. That way, fundraising will be more useful.

"We urge and suggest that the people continue to raise humanitarian funds and channel them to the more needy, such as victims of the atrocities of Israeli military aggression to the Palestinian people," he said.

As information, Rizieq Shihab was sentenced to a fine of Rp. 20 million, subsidiary to 5 months in prison for alleged violations of the health protocol (prokes) in Megamendung. This verdict is lighter than the demands of the public prosecutor (JPU).

"Imposing a fine of Rp. 20 million on the condition that if it is not able to pay, it will be replaced by a criminal sentence for 5 months," said presiding judge Suparman Nyompa in court, Thursday, May 27.

In deciding the sanctions given to Rizieq, the panel of judges considered burdensome and mitigating matters.

For burdensome matters, Rizieq is considered not to support government programs to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, for relief, Rizieq is considered to be occupying his promise to ask his supporters not to come to trial. Rizieq is also considered a religious figure so that he can become an example for the community.