REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin asserted law enforcement officers must be able to protect preachers, including ustaz Abdul Somad, from irresponsible threats. He said that protection to ustaz Somad and all religious leaders should be guaranteed.

"I hope law enforcement officers or the police can protect every preacher so they can give lectures any where in the country, as long as the content of lecture is educating and enlightening the people," Lukman said in a text message received by Republika.co.id, Monday (Aug 3).

He reminded that religious people, including Muslims, needed lectures and sermons to provide enlightment and religious experience. "It is needed so that our nation remains a religious nation," he added.

Ustaz Somad decided to cancel some of his lectures in Central Java, East Java, and Special Administrative Region of Yogyakarta. Through his Instagram account @ustadzabdulsomad, the prominent preacher admitted that the step was taken as a response to threat and intimidation against his lectures in some regions, namely Grobogan, Kudus, Jepara dan Semarang

Ustaz Somad said burden faced by the organizing committee was getting heavier. He cancelled the schedule to give lectures in some regions after paying attention to psychological condition of the congregation and himself.

"Therefore, I cancel promises to preach in Malang, Solo, Boyolali, Jombang, and Kediri (September); Yogyakarta (Oktober); and an agreement to give lecture along with ustad Zulfikar in East Java (December),” the Baznas' Tithe Ambassador explained when being confirmed by Republika.co.id on Monday.

Ustaz Somad deplored various incidents of rejection that he experienced. "We are not at a war against Israel. It was just a lecture," the alumni of post-graduate education at the Dar al-Hadith al-Hasaniyyah Institute, Morocco, said.

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