Banyumas – Islam Defenders Front (FPI) patron Rizieq Shihab canceled his visit to the Al Fattah Islamic Boarding School in Cilongok district, Banyumas, Central Java, on Tuesday, following a protest against his presence in the regency.
A coalition of youth organizations in the Banyumas regency had recently voiced significant protest to Rizieq's impending visit, arguing that Banyumas was a secure place and that there was no need for an FPI presence in the regency.
While Rizieq was not in attendance, he was replaced by his son-in-law Fikri. Hundreds of attendees wearing FPI uniforms were also seen among the congregation. "We will ask for clarification from the police as to why such thing could happen. They had guaranteed that no FPI representatives would be allowed to enter the location," Taufik Hidayat chairman of the Ansor Youth Movement (GP Ansor) Banyumas branch, which was among the members of the youth coalition protesting FPI.