The Islam Defenders Front (FPI), which recently attacked Playboy Indonesia's office to press the magazine to stop publishing, may fit the stereotype of Islam in the West: anarchistic, undemocratic and full of anger. Its presence here, a democratic, secular country led by moderate Muslims, has caused problems. The Jakarta Post asked some people to comment on the issue.

Imam Ardhianto, 22, is studying anthropology at the University of Indonesia. He lives in Depok: The FPI is not merely a group, it is an idea, be it conservative or radical. Disbanding it is not the answer because its members would only establish a new group with the same cause.

I heard Habib Rizieq (FPI leader) was once arrested but this did not stop the group from rebelling against the authorities. It will never stop. In my view, the best way of handling the FPI is for charismatic Muslim figures to ask them to stop fighting vice with violence.

Abdul Halim, 53, is a retired pharmacist who is actively involved in neighborhood religious activities. He lives in Cipondoh, Tangerang: The problem basically lies in law enforcement. So long as the police fail to enforce the law, they (the FPI) will always exist.

After all, the FPI is not the only group that resorts to violence. There are other similar groups, whose members are mostly thugs. Islam teaches the concept of amar ma'ruf nahy munkar, which means people should do good deeds and keep others from doing wrong.

I disapprove of them using violence as a means of achieving their goals, but I can understand why they do it. They are driven by their beliefs. I think disbanding the group would not settle the problem. In fact, if ex-members set up new FPIs, it could make things worse.

Maysi Amalia, 22, is as copywriter for Femina magazine. She lives in Setiabudhi, South Jakarta: I have no problem with the FPI's beliefs as along as they refrain from violence and don't force their opinions on others.

I think the group should be dissolved, but the authorities would need to stop any new FPIs from coming into existence – they cannot arrest all the current members. The government should immediately take action against them. At the very least, it can set some boundaries.