Islamic Defender Front

The Islamic Defender Front (Indonesian: "Front Pembela Islam/FPI") is a hard-line Islamic group in Indonesia well known for their violent acts. [ Yudi Pramuko (2006) "Habib-FPI gempur Playboy?! : rahasia sukses dakwah/ Syahrul Efendi D., Yudi Pramuko Jakarta. ISBN 9799963435 Revision of the author's thesis (S-1)--Institut Perguruan Tinggi Ilmu Alquran, 2002. ]

Many believe that the FPI has something to do with their espousal of violence, ranging from petty crimes to extreme actions. There are calls by Indonesians, even from moderate Muslims, for the regulation of the group, if not its subsequent ban throughout the country.

Controversy

Criticism of FPI's methods has mainly centered on their violent tactics. The FPI have conducted yearly raids during the holy month of Ramadan, targeting night clubs, bars and other various venues "not respectful of the holy month". The violent raids are often covered by local electronic and print media, with scenes of billiard tables turned and shop attendees beaten on their heads bleeding Fact|date=February 2007.

On April 2006 they attacked "Playboy"'s office in Jakarta, Indonesia by throwing stones. They protested the very first publication of the magazine even though it contained no nudity and was considered tamer than other magazines already operating in the country for a while ("FHM", "Popular", "Maxim").

In early 2006 there were public calls for the disbanding of the FPI. Nothing came out of them. On June 2008, National Monument Incident occurred, and FPI leader, Habib Riziq Shihab was arrested. [ Menggugat amar ma'ruf nahi munkar, melecehkan hukum agama & hukum negara : pledoi [i.e. pleidoi] Ketua Umum Front Pembela Islam, Habib Mohammad Rizieq Syihab : disampaikan dalam persidangan di Pengadilan Negeri Jakarta Pusat, hari Jum'at tanggal 11 Jumadil Ula 1424 H, 11 Juli 2003 M / dengan tim pengacara dari bantuan hukum front, Sugito, S.H. ... [et al.] Al-Habib Muhammad Rizieq bin Husein Syihab, 1965- [Jakarta : s.n., 2003] Plea of Habib Mohammad Rizieq Syihab, leader of Islamic Defender Front in Indonesia, on his alleged involvement in destruction of some public facilites in Jakarta; a plea before the Pengadilan Negeri Jakarta Pusat, court of the first instance. In Indonesian, and some texts in Arabic. ]

References

External links

* [http://www.indonesia-relief.org/mod.php?mod=bank&op=infobank&bankid=37 Profile at Indonesia-Relief.org]
* [http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=4026 Profile at MIPT]