On Wednesday and even Thursday in Jakarta, Indonesian Muslim student activists protested against government cracking down for their denied rights.
The protest was carried out as a result of a decree signed on Monday by President Joko Widodo. It was widely believed to be aimed at containing the rise of hardline Muslim groups that called for Sharia Law in the world’s largest Muslim majority country.
Earlier that year a former governor who was Christian was jailed for insulting Islam.
Those events including massive and violet rallies led by activities who were vigilantes raised concerns about the Indonesian being the world’s largest Muslim population.
“The decree is proof that this regime is repressive, authoritarian, and even repeating what the new regime did Ismail Yusanto, spokesman of Hizb-ut Tahrir Indonesia, referring to the rule of former strongman president Suharto,” said in the statement that was echoed by human rights groups.
Suharto ruled Indonesia for 32 years during which he demanded for loyalty to the secular ideology of Pancasila or “five principles”.
According to Asian News “Hizb-ut-Tahrir is a peaceful organization that calls for Sharia (Islamic law) to be implemented in Indonesia and government has said it will be disbanded.”
Chief Security Minister Wiranto told reporters, “It is issued in the national interest.”
He added in the reference to Islamic vigilant and anti-vice groups accused of harassing minorities, “Not allowed to carry out activities that are the responsibility of law enforcement official.”
President Widodo recently told Reuters, “He believes that the country’s reputation for moderate Islam remains intact and that pluralism has always been a part of the Indonesia’s DNA.”
Reporter: Syeda Faiza Bukhari
