Dicky Christanto, Jakarta – Politician and campaigner for pluralism Zannuba Arrifah Chafsoh Rahman Wahid, better known as Yenny Wahid, was summoned for questioning at the Jakarta Police headquarters Tuesday in connection with a report of defamation filed mid last year by Muslim hardliner Munarman.
Yenny, however, refused to undergo the questioning, citing her unclear status in the case.
"There are several important things that I need to clarify with the police about this case, such as my legal capacity and what crime the police wants to change me with as I realize that I have done nothing wrong," the first daughter of former president Abdurrahman Wahid told reporters.
In a show of support her mother Sinta Nuriyah and around 100 Islamic Student Association (HMI) and Association of Muhammadiyah Student members accompanied Yenny to the headquarters of the Jakarta Police.
"I come with many supporters to show Munarman that we are not easily intimidated," Yenny said in a text message to The Jakarta Post. She questioned the motive of her questioning, which comes more than six months after Munarman filed the defamation report.
Munarman accused Yenny and several other activists, including noted lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution and human rights activist Asmara Nababan of defamation because of statement they made in the media which referred to Munarman as "the field actor" who initiated an attack on activists of the National Alliance for Freedom of Religion and Faith (AKBB) at the National Monument (Monas) park last year.
The freedom of religion supporters were rallying in a show of support for followers of the Ahmadiyah Islamic sect, which was declared deviant by the Indonesian Ulema Council.
Human rights and moderate Islamic groups lashed out at the attack, saying it violated freedom of religion, which is enshrined in the Constitution.
In his defence Munarman argued that he was attempting to stop his followers from committing violence against the AKBB activists. Munarman and Islamic Defenders Front leader Rizieq Shihab were later sentenced to 18 months in jail term for their acts of violence.
Yenny asked the police not to get confused or be manipulated by the defamation report.
"I and other rights activists are the one who fight for pluralism in this country. So don't get this all upside down," she said. Jakarta police spokesman Sr. Comr. Zulkarnaen ensured there was no political reasons behind the questioning of Yenny.
Commenting on the seven-month interval between Munarman's report and the summons, Zulkarnaen said the investigators needed to work on the case step by step.
"It is merely because we have to question Munarman and Habib Rizieq in connection with another case. Furthermore, there were dozens of witnesses summoned nearly at the same time, while we lack personnel to question them," he said.