Jakarta – The Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) rejected on Sunday the government's plan to regulate sermons during Friday prayers, arguing that there was nothing worrying about the content of the sermons. HTI Jakarta head Tisna Assyirbuni said the plan was unnecessary.

"There are already rules and regulations [according to Islamic teachings] on the sermons," Tisna told reporters on Sunday as quoted by tribunnews.com. He said HTI would deliver sermons per usual.

Tisna said the group would not comply with the government's rules should they be implemented and would lobby lawmakers to cancel the plan.

Religious Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin said earlier that the government would issue guidelines on the content of Friday sermons after receiving reports that the sermons often contained hate speech and promoted sectarianism.

"There are worries from Muslims about the sermons," he said. Lukman denied the plan was part of an effort to certify clerics. (wit)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/02/19/hizbut-tahrir-rejects-rules-on-friday-sermons.html