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Police urged to be serious in Irshad Manji case

Jakarta Post - June 11, 2012

Bambang Muryanto, Yogyakarta – The Yogyakarta Police have been urged to be serious in dealing with the forced abandonment of the recent discussion forum, allegedly marred by acts of violence and vandalism.

The forum discussed a book titled "Allah, Liberty and Love" by Irshad Manji of Canada last month. The book's author was also present at the Institute of Social and Islamic Studies (LKiS) office in Yogyakarta.

The call for tougher police measures was conveyed by the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Yogyakarta over the weekend. They deplored the fact that the police had yet to name a suspect in the case even though as the LBH had presented the police "with photos and video depicting the faces of the perpetrators".

"It has been a month, but no significant developments have been made in the case," LBH Yogyakarta director Samsudin Nurseha told The Jakarta Post, on Saturday.

A group of people in robes and helmets forcedly dispersed the gathering on May 9, 2012. Some of the participants were injured and the office was damaged.

Witnesses said the attackers also distributed a press release issued by the Indonesian Mujahidin Council (MMI), one of the Muslim hardline groups in the country. "Juristically, the evidence we have presented is enough for the police to name a suspect. The police have heard from witnesses as well," Samsudin said.

Yogyakarta Police's public relation division head Adj. Sr. Comr. Anny Pudjiastuti said the police could not be in a rush in looking into the case. "We are still developing the case. As there are many people involved we cannot expect to get the case over in just two days," Anny said.

MMI chairman Irfan S. Awwas confirmed that his colleague Jarot Supriyanto had been summoned by the police for a hearing. Jarot was said to be the coordinator of the group during the incident. "He was heard as a witness," Irfan said.

Irfan said that the MMI had reported LKiS to the police as the organizer of Irshad Manji's book discussion. He said the report was filed because LKiS had defamed Islam by organizing the discussion.