Prabowo Subianto will ‘mediate’ if Indonesia bans radical group Islamic Defenders Front

Prabowo, who was backed by alliance of hardline Islamist groups in failed election bid, says organisation should not be ostracised despite alleged links to atrocities

President Joko Widodo has hinted the group could be outlawed in an effort to tackle a growing wave of conservatism that has seen attacks on minorities

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Published: 10:00am, 31 Jul 2019Updated: 10:44pm, 31 Jul 2019

Indonesian opposition leader Prabowo Subianto will play a “mediatory role” between the government and the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) if authorities refuse to renew the operating licence of the hardline group, which campaigns for a caliphate in the secular Muslim nation.

The offer, which was made through his spokesman on Tuesday, follows hints by the country’s President Joko Widodo over the weekend that the FPI could be banned in an effort to tackle a growing wave of conservatism that has seen attacks against minorities. Widodo said outlawing the group was “entirely possible”.

Irawan Ronodipuro, director of foreign relations for Prabowo’s Great Indonesia Movement Party, told the Post that their leader stood ready and willing to help.

“Prabowo will play a mediatory role if the FPI’s licence is revoked,” he said.

Prabowo Subianto (left) and Joko Widodo (right) have reconciled since their election battle in April. Photo: EPA

The FPI’s registration with authorities as a “mass organisation” expired on June 20 and the group has submitted a request for an extension.

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