Indonesia bans Hizbut group that seeks global caliphate, using decree criticised by rights groups
The measures follow months of sectarian tensions in the world’s most populous Muslim nation that shook the government and undermined Indonesia’s reputation for practising a moderate form of Islam
The Indonesian government on Wednesday officially disbanded the Indonesian branch of an international, pan-Islamic organisation over its activities regarded as unconstitutional.
The disbandment of Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) occurred 10 days after President Joko Widodo issued a controversial decree shortening the procedures required for banning organisations whose activities and ideology threaten national unity.
The decree, which amended the 2013 Law on Mass Organisations, was issued in an apparent bid to crack down on radical Muslim groups with increasing political clout.
The facts on the field showed that many of its activities violated state ideology Pancasila and the national integrity
“Although in their statute HTI put Pancasila as its ideology, the facts on the field showed that many of its activities violated state ideology Pancasila and the national integrity,” Freddy Harris, director general of general law administration at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, said in a press statement on the disbandment.
The state ideology is based on the principles of consultative democracy, social justice, humanitarianism, the unity of Indonesia, and devotion to a single God, while the Constitution guarantees freedom of worship.
According to Harris, HTI and other groups and individuals banned under the decree still have legal options to challenge the government’s decision.
Before the disbandment, HTI had been recognised as a legal mass organisation in the country since 2005.