Various Criminal Events Occur At Mosques, DPR Asks Government To Seriously Handle It: Arrest The Perpetrators!

Mosque Illustration (Photo: Pixabay)

JAKARTA - The House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR RI) has asked the Government to seriously handle criminal incidents that occurred in mosques and made religious figures become victims. Such as the shooting of Ustadz Armand in Tangerang by an unknown person (OTK) and the attack on Ustadz Chaniago in Batam which was said to have been carried out by a person with a mental disorder (ODGJ).

Most recently, the pulpit of the Makassar Grand Mosque was burned on Saturday, September 25, in the morning at 01.30 a.m. local time. Where an unemployed person with the initial K was arrested by officers after the incident.

"A number of incidents that have happened to religious teachers and mosques recently must be investigated and the perpetrators arrested," said Chairman of Commission VIII DPR RI Yandri Susanto to reporters, Sunday, September 26.

"If this continues, it can trigger suspicion and anger in the community. The government must move quickly," continued the head of the commission in charge of religion.

On the other hand, the PAN Party politician asked the public to remain calm and entrust the legal process to the authorities. In addition, he said, the management or Mosque Prosperity Council (DKM) must also increase vigilance and security in the mosque environment.

"It is better to anticipate. There should be no criminalization of ulama, Ustaz, mosque administrators. Mosques must be guarded. The community through DKM can synergize with the police and other authorities to increase vigilance," said Yandri.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD said that the government does not agree that the perpetrators of burning mosques or attacks on religious teachers are always considered people with mental disorders (ODGJ).

Mahfud MD also asked the authorities to thoroughly investigate the burning of the mosque pulpit.

"This investigation must be complete and open. Don't rush to decide that the perpetrator is a madman as before," said Mahfud MD in a statement broadcast on the YouTube of the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Saturday, September 25, 2021.

"Back when Sheikh Ali Jaber was mistreated by someone. Then someone shouted from his family and so on that the perpetrator was a madman. The government did not agree that the perpetrator was always considered a madman," he said.

According to Mahfud, the perpetrators who were arrested for the attack on the mosque or Ustaz must be brought to justice. "Let the people who have been arrested be processed and brought to court. If there is any doubt whether the person concerned has a mental illness or not. That's up to the judge to decide," he said.