Jakarta – Hendardi, the chairman of Jakarta-based human rights group Setara Institute, said on Tuesday (31/01) the police have been thoroughly professional in their handling of firebrand cleric Habib Rizieq Shihab after charging him with insulting Indonesia's official state ideology Pancasila.

Rizieq, the leader of hardline Muslim group Islamic Defenders Front, or FPI, reportedly made the insult during a speech in 2011 when he said "[former President] Sukarno's [version of] Pancasila puts God on his bottom."

"Everyone should be treated equally before the law," Hendardi said in a statement.

Being named a suspect is part of the regular procedure in a criminal investigation and Hendardi pleaded to Rizieq's supporters not to overreact to the news. Nevertheless, some of them have complained that the police have been treating the cleric like an animal.

"Police investigators have been very professional and provide clear and strong evidence. Let's just let the law do its job now," Hendardi said.

Rizieq was charged by the West Java Police following a report from Sukmawati Sukarnoputri, one of Sukarno's daughters, on Oct. 27 last year.

Rizieq was also accused of having defamed Sukarno and mocking a decision by the country's secular and religious leaders to drop the so-called Jakarta Charter, which before Indonesia's independence sought to include in Pancasila an obligation for Muslims to follow Islamic law.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/news/police-commended-professional-handling-habib-rizieq-rights-group/