Decree on Islamic Defenders Front
[4] The decree prohibits any association with Islamic Defender Fronts and justifies the arrest of anyone involved in its activities or carrying any symbols related to it.
There have been demands by Indonesians, mainly mainstream Muslims, other religious organizations, political communities and ethnic groups, for the FPI to be disbanded or banned.
In the aftermath of the Monas Incident, the moderate Islamic organization, Nadhlatul Ulama, and its wings sent an open letter to Indonesia's then-president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), calling on the government to take action against the FPI by disbanding it and any of its factions.
[9][10] Former president Abdurrahman Wahid, in the aftermath of that incident, voiced his support for disbanding the FPI after visiting the victims of its attack, saying he disagreed with its use of violence and its threats against national security and safety.
[22][23][24][25][26][27] The FPI used political buzzers (social media political operators tasked with making particular online conversation subjects trend), online or not, not only for smearing anyone who opposed them but also to build their own image which seems grandiose to commoners and layman, to make them appear "big" and "holy", when in truth they are demonizing and harmful.
[28] In a post-return action celebrating the return of Muhammad Rizieq Shihab, the hardline Islamist scholar, the FPI launched the "Revolusi Akhlak" ("Moral Revolution") campaign.
Shihab promoted Indonesia's transformation turned into a Sharia-based country with Tauhid as the basis of the state system.
He also threatened to use weapons to wage open war against the government if, as it claimed, they must keep the "Ulamas ... oppressed", further escalating political tension.
[35] The new law removed the need for a lengthy process and a court decision to disband an unruly and threatening organization for the sake of national unity and integrity and maintaining peace and order.
[38] After the banning of the HTI, far-right Indonesian Islamic group, including the FPI, feared their existence might be threatened by the law.
[26] The ban was announced after the capture of FPI leader, Muhammad Rizieq Shihab, on 13 December 2020 for violating Indonesia's COVID-19 restrictions and anti-government incitement.
The edict prohibited involvement of the public, both directly or indirectly, in FPI or FPI-related activity, encouraged the public to report any FPI symbols, encouraged Municipal Police (Satpol-PP) (with support of TNI - POLRI) to clear the symbols, banners, posters, pamphlets, etc., and prohibited any sharing, access, and creation of content related to Islamic Defender Fronts online.
[45] Soon after the decree was announced, on 30 December 2020, Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform, Tjahjo Kumolo, announced that a rule to regulate public servants not joining the FPI or participating in FPI activities was tabled by the Ministry with the State Civil Apparatus Commission, and the Civil Service Agency.
The decree forbids state civil apparatus members to be part of, affiliated with, or supporting illegal organizations.
[47] Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Johnny G. Plate, announced that internet activity of the FPI or related to it will be prohibited and limited.
[49] M. Natsir Kongah, head of PPATK Public Relation Division, mentioned that more than "hundreds of millions rupiahs" are frozen from the 59 bank accounts.
The Central Java Regional FPI vowed to rebuild the organization again after Jokowi's presidency, or soon after so-called "regime change".
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) supported the move by the government, believing it had been made "after deep and careful study".
[62] Golkar supported the government's decision and claimed the move is had been anticipated for a long time as "the public had known their (the FPI) track record".
[63] The United Development Party (PPP) supported the government's decision for the sake of "public safety and national integrity".
[64] The Gerindra, a long-time ally of the FPI, criticized the decision as "unlawful" and "unconstitutional" although they supported the government's move to weed out radicalism and its movements.
[69] The Indonesian Youths' National Committee (KNPI) criticized the dissolution as unfair because the FPI was unlike the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI), which was attempting a coup.
[70] Aziz Yanuar, an attorney for Muhammad Rizieq Shihab, criticized the dissolution as a diversion from the case of the shooting of six FPI members in December 2020.
