Regional

NU holds seminar on disbanding HTI in Papua

Jum, 19 Mei 2017 | 00:35 WIB

Jayapura, NU Online
The Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) in collaboration with Papua's Religious Affairs Ministry Office held a seminar on the disbandment of Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) in Jayapura. The seminar is titled 'The disbandment of Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) for Papua's Peaceful Land'.

Papua police chief Insp. Gen. Boy R Amar is one of the speakers in the seminar.

The Hizbuth Tahrir was founded in 1953 by Taqiuddin al-Nabhanidi in Jerusalem. The ideology is to establishment the Islamic Khilafah (Caliphate), or an Islamic state that contradicts the democratic system.

The organization spawned Islamic countries. They attempted to overthrow the government of Jordan that led to the banishment of the organization.

"HT also tried to develop in other countries like Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Egypt and Malaysia. But it is now prohibited because of their dangerous ideas," said Ridwan Al-Makassary.

"In multicultural nations like Britain, Australia and Canada, the group is allowed to exist. But if they break rules, they will be prosecuted".

The group entered Indonesia in the 1980s, preaching at university students and mosque-goers while distributing pamphlets of the caliphate sermon.

HTI came to Papua in the 2000s following the fall of Suharto, who strictly prohibited the growth of Islamic organizations. HTI has since spread the caliphate ideology and embedded doctrines to its members in Papua.

Lately, locals have started voicing their dislike towards the group due to its opposition to the state ideology Pancasila.

"HTI has been staging ideological treason by indoctrinating its members to rise against the state. With an ambiguous strategy, they hold religious events to conceal they fight against the state, giving false understanding. They're quire sleek," said Ridwan.

Meahwile, the police chief said HTI is spreading an ideology that contradicts the Pancasila and the state constitution. The government, Amar said, must use eloquent ways to disband them.

"Not by force but with policy. There are laws regulating the disbandment of an organization," he said. (Antara/Masdar)