Arrested By The Police, Rizieq: Allahuakbar, The Struggle To Continue, Stop The Legal Discrimination

Rizieq Shihab will be detained at the detention center for the Directorate of Narcotics at Polda Metro Jaya (Wardhany Tsa Tsia / VOI)

JAKARTA - High Imam of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) Rizieq Shihab is being held at the detention center of the Jakarta Police's Narcotics Directorate in a case of alleged violation of health protocols.

Rizieq is reluctant to comment much on the case he is experiencing. He only asked that legal discrimination be stopped and the struggle must continue.

"Ahlan wa sahlan. Allahuakbar. The struggle continues. Stop legal discrimination," said Rizieq at the Jakarta Police Headquarters, South Jakarta, Sunday, December 13.

He immediately entered the detention center without re-explaining the legal discrimination he meant.

Rizieq will serve a 20-day detention period from December 12 to December 31.

After undergoing an examination for nearly 14 hours, Rizieq Shihab was immediately detained at the Jakarta Police Ditnarkoba Detention Center. He walked out of the General Criminal Directorate Building in the early hours of Sunday, December 13 at around 00.25 WIB.

Rizieq came out with his hands tied in an orange vest and climbed straight into the detention car.

At that time, a number of his supporters who were present shouted takbir and a female supporter asked why the FPI leader was handcuffed.

Rizieq came to the General Criminal Directorate Building of Polda Metro Jaya in a silver Mitsubishi Pajero. He appeared to be accompanied by a number of people, including the General Secretary of FPI Munarman.

Rizieq Shihab will be detained at the detention center for the Directorate of Narcotics at Polda Metro Jaya (Wardhany Tsa Tsia / VOI)

Before undergoing the examination, he had said that he was in good health and was ready to follow the examination according to the laws and regulations. Meanwhile, when asked about his detention and his attitude towards the article which became the basis for his determination as a suspect, Rizieq was reluctant to answer further.

"We don't know that it hasn't been checked. The important thing is that I have an investigation regarding the crowd," he said.

The police also tested Rizieq for COVID-19 and the results were negative.

In this case, Polda Metro Jaya has named Rizieq a suspect in the alleged violation of the health protocol. In addition, there were five other people who were also named suspects in the alleged violation of protocol at Rizieq's celebration.

Rizieq had scheduled his questioning twice by the Polda. However, he did not come to answer the call.

He was charged under Articles 160 and 216 of the Criminal Code. Article 160 of the Criminal Code concerning Incitement to Violence and Not Complying with the provisions of the law, with the threat of six years imprisonment or a fine of IDR 4,500.

Meanwhile, Article 216 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code concerning Obstacles to Legal Provisions. The threat is imprisonment of four months and two weeks or a fine of Rp9,000.