Regional

Pesantren leaders condemn FPI clashes with locals

Selasa, 23 Juli 2013 | 01:07 WIB

Semarang, NU Online
Some leaders of Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) from various regions in Central Java have condemned a series of sweeps conducted by the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) in several regions, such as those in Sukorharjo and Kendal regencies last week that led to clashes with locals.<>

“Don’t take over the police’s duty to tackle crime,” the leader of Salatiga's Mashitoh Islamic boarding school KH Nasir Azhari said here on Monday (22/7).

Another cleric, KH Tamam Qoulani of the Al Hikmah Al Islamiyah added that he had rejected the idea of establishing FPI in Salatiga for exactly those reasons.

Head of FPI advocacy team Zaenal Abidin Petir said he was sorry for the incidents but argued that the sweeps were their way of implementing true Islamic values.

FPI’s sweeps in Kendal and Sukoharjo sparked people’s resentment, which led to clashes that resulted in residents setting fire to FPI vehicles. To date, the police have named seven suspects in the clashes, three of whom are FPI members.

Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq