Rahmat – The head of a provincial branch of the Islamic Defenders Front and two other members of the hard-line group were sentenced to jail on Tuesday for smashing up restaurants that opened during the fasting month – and then released from custody.

Abdul Rahman Assagaf, the head of the provincial branch of the hard-line group, known as the FPI, was on Monday jailed for five months, half the prosecutions' demand of ten months, for the destruction of private property during a series of attacks in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

Three restaurants were trashed by the self-styled moral crusaders, who were outraged that they were open and serving food in the middle of the day during Ramadan, when most Muslims were fasting.

Members of the LPI, a unit of the FPI, also smashed windows at the Indonesian Ahmadiyah Congregation (JAI) complex, including at a mosque, and damaged a car and a motorcycle.

The mob, estimated at 30 to 50 people, also attacked Ahmad, the lone guard at the complex, and two paralegals from the Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) who attempted to stop the attack. Police initially claimed that Abdul faced up to six years in prison for inciting the attack.

The Makassar District Court on Tuesday also jailed a second FPI Member for five months, while a third received a sentence of four months and 10 days. All three were released from custody given the length of time served in custody.

Upon hearing the verdict, Abdul shouted "Allahu akbar" ("God is great"). The chant was repeated by hundreds of FPI members who had gathered at the court for the verdict.