Rizieq is worse. Let me sum it up

Front Pembela Indonesia (Indonesian Defenders Front) has somehow in history got translated to the Islamic Defenders Front (Front Pembela Islam). It was one of the national organisations in the old order since the Indonesian independence. The FPI is known to be an ultra-right conservative islamic organisation that steamrolls both non-moslem and moslem organisations alike. Fashioning long white saudi robes and white turbans, calling themselves the purest kind of folk under Allah, destroys those that threaten their ideologies with brute force. They are led by a "habib" known as Rizieq Shihab, who was ultra-right conservative, oppressive, provocative, uncompromising "islamic" evangelist.

For example, with paramilitary training and gear, they destroy and burn family restaurants that stay open in the fasting month, pillage churches and temples, as well as boycotting every single thing they don't like. From shopkeepers wearing santa hats in christmas, to non-moslem governmental posts, to Pokemon-Go, to bread. Yeah, you heard me, bread.

One of the most notable cases was when editor-in-chief of Playboy Indonesia, Erwin Arnanda, was put accused by the Indonesian court of law, sponsored by the FPI and several groups swooned to its side. Boxed in the article from wikipedia about it:


Arnada began plans to establish Playboy Indonesia, an Indonesian version of the American men's magazine Playboy, as a challenge. He considered the magazine more than "pornography", describing it as home to "edgy and award-winning journalism pieces" which he wanted to bring to Indonesia.[7] Arnada entered discussions with Christie Hefner, then head of Playboy Enterprises, in November 2005. He received permission to publish an Indonesian edition the next January.[1] The first issue was launched in April 2006 and did not feature any nudity or focus on sexuality. Instead, the models were fully clothed; the issue also included an interview with author Pramoedya Ananta Toer.[7] Later articles continued to deal with literature, as well as human rights and politics.[2]

The magazine was, however, highly controversial. Before publication Muslim groups had expressed opposition.[1] After publication began the Playboy Indonesia offices were attacked, as were various printers. In one instance the Islamic Defenders Front attacked the Playboy Indonesia offices in South Jakarta, leading to the building being evacuated. By May 2006 the continuous protests had left the magazine without an office.[1] The bad publicity led advertisers to abandon the magazine. Ultimately the magazine was shut down after releasing ten issues,[7] having moved to the predominantly Hindu island Bali since its second issue, in June 2006.[8]

For his role in Playboy Indonesia's publication Arnada came under investigation. Investigators cited his publication of "pornographic" materials, illegal in Indonesia, as evidence of criminal indecency. On trial in April 2007, the South Jakarta District Court rejected this claim;[9] an appeal at the Jakarta High Court affirmed this decision.[3] After two years of appeals by prosecutors, the case reached the Supreme Court of Indonesia. The Supreme Court ruled against Arnada and sentenced him to two years in prison.[9] In October 2010 Arnada was imprisoned in Cipinang Penitentiary Institution in Jakarta.[7]

Arnada was released in June 2011,[7] after the Supreme Court agreed with his defense that a journalist's professional acts should be tried under the Press Code and not Criminal Code.[9] Numerous commentators, including Arnada, described it as a victory for the country's freedom of press.[9] However, responding to calls that he was a hero, Arnada stated "I’m not a hero, nor a victim. I’m just another version of history"; he considered his experience less drastic than that of journalists elsewhere in the country.[3] In a 2013 interview Arnada stated that his incarceration had "muted his 'insane ambitions'"; Arnada's friends stated that he had been deeply changed by the term.[7]


And Indonesia is not a liberal country like USA, Canada, UK, Germany, Australia, and so forth. It is still a conservative nation where being an atheist is illegal, and most of the population believe that the first national principle: "Belief in the absoluteness of God (in Indonesian, Ketuhanan Yang Maha Esa)." Only refers to the major religion of Indonesia, Islam. Therefore, hardline groups like FPI are without challenge from the government, law enforcement and the army. Contrary, they even got aid from the authorities, better than being branded an infidel.

Starting the division and intolerance of the state with its followers glorifying its leader Rizieq, with Rizieq orchestrating controversy the people, even adding fuel to the hoaxes that are abundant in the media. His wish is to create an ultra-right conservative theocracy, thus disregarding the nation's fundamental "Unity in Diversity" ideology, if not every ideology our founding fathers made, evident by his proposal of being the head islamic cleric of the state, when there is in fact, no such thing as "the head cleric/pope/cardinal/lama of islam".

Rizieq is just one of the many, and he holds many governmental and authority figureheads in his pocket like a game of monopoly. It is the complete opposite of what you have in the states, and I am saddened by the fact that those who claim themselves as "muslim" do not share its values of unity, tolerance, virtue, kindness and justice.