REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – Habib Rizieq Shihab could take a pretrial if he felt being criminalized in the case of steamy conversation accused to him, said the Chairman of Indonesian Police Watch (IPW) Neta S Pane. 

"If Habib Rizieq feels criminalized, he may take a legal defense, such as pretrial,” said him to Republika.co.id on Friday (June 2). 

By a pretrial, public might argue whether the case was manipulated. Public would know whether Habib Rizieq was a victim of criminalization.  

Neta said the legal action was better than neglecting the summons. He said Habib Rizieq should not running away to other countries. He hoped that Habib Rizieq would present to the next summon. 

A member of Habib Rizieq’s legal team Kapitra Ampera said his client had an intention to submit a pretrial. The team had finished the files to be submitted to South Jakarta District Court. 

“We are waiting for Sugito (chairman of FPI’s legal team) to come back from Arab as he will bring procuration from Habib Rizieq,” he said. 

Also read: Police await Interpol response on red notice against Rizieq

Meanwhile in Bandung, Islamic Movement Alliance (API) West Java held a demonstration in front of Gedung Sate on Friday (June 2). Hundred of people demanded to stop what they call as criminalization to ulemas. 

API West Java Coordinator Asep Syaripudin argued that the government and law enforcers had tried to criminalize their ulemas by the cases subjected to the Head of Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) Muhammad Rizieq Shihab, Secretary General of Muslims Forum (FUI) Muhammad Al Khaththath, and the former lecturer of Uhamka University Alfian Tanjung.

"We hold the action as a respond to the policies by the regime who manipulates the law enforcers to criminalize ulemas,” Asep said. 

API demanded that the cases to be closed. He threatened to make bigger action in Jakarta to convey the same demand. 

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika