The Imam's Inquisition

Shouts of 'God is Great' from hundreds of members of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) greeted the arrival of Muhammad Rizieq Syihab in front of the headquarters of the West Java police department. After getting out of a white Mitsubishi Pajero Sports car, Rizieq headed for the case review room on the first floor of the crime investigation directorate-general. There, six investigators were waiting for Rizieq, who arrived with eight lawyers.

Two weeks ago, Rizieq, founder of the FPI, answered a second summons related to the alleged desecration of Pancasila, the five principles of Indonesia. He did not show up for the first summons. "He has been uncooperative right from the start," West Java police chief, Insp. Gen. Anton Charliyan told Tempo, last week. "Bringing along a crowd to your questioning is an attempt to intimidate investigators."

January 24, 2017