INDONESIA BANNED THE

ISLAMIC DEFENDER’S FRONT OR

FRONT PEMBELA ISLAM (FPI)
 WHAT HAPPENED?
Indonesia on Wednesday (30/12/20) banned the hardline religious
group the Islamic Defender’s Front, raising the prospect of rising
political tension in the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation.
 WHAT IS THE ISLAMIC DEFENDER’S FRONT?
Formed in 1998, the Islamic Defender’s Front, advocates a strict
interpretation of Islam and developed a reputation for raiding bars
and brothels, intimidating religious minorities.

It once forced the cancellation of a Lady Gaga concert.

It Has also been involved in humanitarian work after natural disasters.

 JUMP TO 2016
Its role in 2016 mass rallies raised concern about the rise of identity
politics and political Islam.

November 2016 Jakarta protests (also called Protests defending the

Quran) refer to an Islamist mass protest which took place on 4
November 2016 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

It was attended by an estimated 50,000–200,000 protesters and was

aimed against the Governor of Jakarta Basuki Tjahaja Purnama
(popularly known as "Ahok"), for alleged blasphemy of the Quran, the
Islamic holy book.
 INFLUENCE INCREASED IN 2016
Its political sway has risen in recent years, and in 2016 the FPI played a
role in mass protests against Jakarta’s Christian former governor, who
was jailed for insulting Islam.
 WHO IS FPI’S LEADER?
Cleric Rizieq Shihab, 55, has for years been a controversial figure in
Indonesia.

He was jailed in 2008 for inciting violence

He left the country in 2017 after facing charges of pornography, and

insulting the state ideology, which were later dropped.
 Thousands of Rizieq Shihab’s supporters
thronged Jakarta’s airport to welcome him back
from exile in Novembe
Rizieq was arrested this month on charges of violating health
protocols.
He remains in custody.
 WHY DID INDONESIA BAN THE GROUP?
There was a concern in government that he
could be seeking to harness opposition
forces against President Joko Widodo,
using Islam as a rallying cry.

Indonesia doesn't have a state religion.

 WILL THE BAN BE EFFECTIVE?
While the decision to ban the FPI is legally sound, analysts say the move
may backfire and only lead to new iterations.

Hours after the chief security minister announced the ban, a senior FPI
member in Jakarta, Novel Bamukmin, told Reuters the group would
fight for their beliefs and “defend the country from traitors”.

Security analysts have said the ban, based on historical precedents, it

appears to be a politically motivated decision.
 WILL THE BAN BE EFFECTIVE?
However, the 2016 rallies spearheaded by the FPI and other Islamic
groups saw the religion take on an increasingly prominent political
role.

On his return, Rizieq began meeting several key opposition figures and
promising a “moral revolution”, a potential challenge to Jokowi ahead
of elections scheduled for 2024.
 STAY TUNED…

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