Jakarta – Betawi Brotherhood Forum (FBR) chairman Fadloli El Muhir was charged Friday with defaming women protesters, with police declaring the move showed their intent to curb intimidation by mass organizations.
Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani said Fadloli was charged as a suspect in violating Criminal Code articles on defamation and the incitement of hatred, with the case to be turned over to the Jakarta Prosecutor's Office within a month. If found guilty, he could receive a maximum four-year prison term.
Fadloli has not been detained because, Firman said, it was only required for suspects in cases with sentences of five years or more.
He said the police would rein in groups deemed to cause terror and public disorder, following criticism law enforcers have failed to act against alleged intimidation. "Law enforcement is the answer to handle those organizations," he said.
A day earlier, detectives questioned Fadloli for 12 hours about remarks he made of women who took part in an April 22 protest against the pornography bill, which is currently under deliberation in the House of Representatives.
In a live current affairs program on Metro TV on May 1, Fadloli described the protesters as "evil, wretched and immoral". Former first lady Sinta Nuriyah Wahid and playwright Ratna Sarumpaet, who took part in the rally, reacted to the comments by separately reporting Fadloli to city police on June 1 and June 6.
Fadloli insisted that his remarks were not directed at any particular individual and that he had commented in his capacity as a Muslim cleric.
To be fair, Firman said the police also would follow up on Fadloli's complaint, filed on May 23, against Sinta Nuriyah for calling FBR an intolerant and anarchistic group.
Fadloli could not be reached for comment, but his lawyer Suhana Natawilwana told The Jakarta Post on Thursday night that his client was ready to face the charges. "It's just part of the legal process. It doesn't mean he's guilty," Suhana said.
Police will call several women activists, including entertainer Rieke Diah Pitaloka and Jurnal Perempuan (women's journal) chief editor Gadis Arivia, and the moderator of the Metro TV talk show Today's Dialog Meutia Hafidz, as witnesses in the case.