News Statement
Hizb ut Tahrir Indonesia slams Criminalization and Abuse of Ulemah (Scholars)!

Jakarta. Around 20,000 people of Hizb ut Tahrir / Indonesia (HTI) held a peaceful protest in National Monument, Jakarta to reject criminalizing and abuse of Ulemah on Sunday morning (05/02/2017).

The official spokesman of Hizb ut Tahrir / Indonesia, Ismail Yusanto, strongly condemned the criminalization of Ulemah as happened today.

"Criminalization is an attempt to find faults with the purpose to criminalize the Ulemah and disband Islamic organizations. The action was clearly tyranny and must be stopped," said Ismail Yusanto.

HTI also condemned Jakarta Governor Ahok who made remarks that obviously were regarded as a scold and even a threat to KH Ma'ruf Amin who was present as a witness asked to testify by the prosecutor.

"What was done by Ahok is an indication that he did not have good will to respect the Islamic religion. Instead of improving himself after desecration of the Qur'an in the Thousand Islands regency, he further directly insulted an Ulemah who is widely respected and recognized as the leader of the Muslim Ummah," said Ismail in front of the demonstrators.

With numerous bad records, according to Ismail, Ahok does not deserve to be a governor. Moreover, in the view of Islam, according to Ismail, it is forbidden for Muslims to elect a Kaffir as a leader.

Therefore, Ismail explained, HTI calls upon Muslims especially in Jakarta to firmly reject the Kafir leader.
"For those who still support him, immediately cease that support, because as Muslims we should be guided by the Qur'an which clearly forbids electing a Kafir as a leader, and who openly insults the Qur'an and Ulemah,” he said.

Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir
in Indonesia