jpnn.com, JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD has responded to the call for the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) to be disbanded, following the arrests of three terrorist suspects recently.
Mahfud argued that the arrest of MUI members suspected of terrorism did not mean that the whole council needed to be taken down.
ALSO SEE: Former MUI Member Ahmad Zain Charged with Terrorism Funding
"Let's not think that MUI needs to be disbanded, and don't provoke others by alleging that the government is attacking MUI through Densus 88," said Mahfud on his Twitter account @mohmahfudmd, Saturday (20/11).
He also said that the arrest of MUI individuals should not be interpreted as an attack by the security forces on the authority of the institution.
ALSO SEE: MUI Removes Member Arrested for Alleged Terrorism
"Terrorists can be caught anywhere, in forests, malls, houses, churches, mosques and more," he said.
"If the apparatus is silent and something happens, they can be accused of being not responsible. There will be a legal process and open evidence," he added.
ALSO SEE: MUI Member Among Suspected Terrorists Arrested by Densus 88
The former Constitutional Court chief further said that the position of the MUI was legally strong, so it could not be dismissed arbitrarily.
"The position of the MUI is very strong because it is mentioned in several laws and regulations," he said.
Densus 88 arrested three terrorism suspects in Bekasi, West Java, namely Ahmad Zain An-Najah, Farid Ahmad Okbah, and Anung Al Hamat. They have been charged for terrorism financing.
They were involved in funding activities for terrorist group Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) through an agency called the Mal Abdurrahman Bin Auf Amil Zakat Institution (LAM BM ABA).
An investigation revealed that Ahmad Zain was the chairman of the LAM BM ABA. Farid was also a board member of the LAM BM ABA.
Meanwhile, Anung was the founder of aid agency Perisai Nusantara Esa.
LAM BM ABA is a funding institution managed by the JI group, while Perisai Nusantara Esa is a wing organization of the JI group.
Ahmad Zain was listed as a member of the Central MUI Fatwa Commission, but he was deactivated after his arrest. Likewise, Farid was also deactivated as an administrator of the Bekasi MUI for the Fatwa Commission. (antara/mcr20/jpnn)
This news has been broadcast on JPNN.com with the title: Pesan Mahfud MD Bagi yang menginginkan MUI Dibubarkan, Tegas