REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Vice President Jusuf Kalla (JK) expressed his concern over the rejection to prominent preacher ustaz Abdul Somad in Central Java, East Java, and Special Administrative Region of Yogyakarta. Earlier, ustaz Somad decided to cancel some of his lectures in those provinces as a response to threat and intimidation in some regions, namely Grobogan, Kudus, Jepara dan Semarang.

“Yes we are concerned, but ustaz Somad is not being rejected by the authorities. Pros and cons indeed existed in the communities,” said JK on Tuesday (Sept 4).

Incident of intimidation to ustaz Somad's lectures must be evaluated throughly, JK said. He stressed this included aspects of organizers, mass organizations, or communities.

“On the other hand, we have to observe the cause, also overall evaluation, such as in the community as well as ustaz Somad himself, that may be something is not appropriate,” JK added.

Meanwhile, ustaz Somad would not file a police report against those who intimidate his lectures. He was upset with previous legal proceedings as the case has not been solved yet.

"No. I just want to calm down. I'm tired. The handling of alleged persecution in Bali has not been completed yet," ustaz Somad said when contacted by Republika.co.id, on Tuesday.

According to ustaz Somad, there was a wiser way beside taking legal step. He chose not to fight back against persecutions.

Ustaz Somad said he did not want any friction in the community, especially Muslims.

"Give it up. God exist," he said.

According to politician of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle Eddy, ustaz Somad should file a police report against alleged persecution. It could prevent turmoil in the community as people tended to grow speculation over parties who threatened ustaz Somad.

"By making a report, the police can investigate the case immediately and solve the case," Eddy said at Parliament complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday (Sept 4).

Meanwhile, Chariman of Central Board of Hanura Party Inas Nasrullah Zubir expected ustaz Somad to reveal openly the threat and intimidation against him. New problem might arose if ustaz Somad did not explain identity of persecutors.

People might be suspicious to the truth of ustaz Somad's statement in his Instagram account. He said the statement could lead to multiple interpretations.

"So far, I don't know who the perpetrator was," he said when contacted on Tuesday.

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 charismatic 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.

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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