Dewi Nurita, Taufiq Siddiq and Rosseno Aji, Jakarta – Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) leader Rizieq Shihab repeatedly reminded participants of the 212 reunion rally that 2019 marks the year where a change in Indonesia's presidency is needed.
"Remember everyone, 2019 is time to change the president," said Rizieq in a telephone call that was blasted through speakers placed around the Monas area where the event was held. Rizieq Shihab has yet returned to Indonesia following the criminal cases that incriminated him last year.
However, Rizieq did not stop there and continued to entice participants by barring them from voting a presidential hopeful that is endorsed by a political party which he claims is responsible for blasphemy against Islam.
"It's haram to vote for a presidential hopeful and legislative candidate that is backed by a political party that supports a blasphemous individual," said the person that is currently in Mecca after numerous criminal charges in the past years.
Rizieq also rambled on about the presidential and vice presidential hopeful criteria that must be voted by the 212 reunion rally participants, which he said is the candidate pair chosen by the Ijtima Ulama.
His statement is, in fact, referring to the candidates for the 2019 presidential election, Indonesia's opposition party leader Prabowo Subianto and his VP hopeful, Sandiaga Uno.
Moreover, responding to the reunion's theme, the Jokowi-Ma'ruf campaign team deputy Abdul Kadir Karding accused the 212 movement as a hidden campaign in support of the Prabowo-Sandiaga team.
"Since the beginning, we are aware that this movement is not about morale, let alone religious affairs, this is a purely political movement which is blatantly a hidden campaign," said Abdul Kadir Karding when Tempo reached him on Sunday, December 2.
However, the Prabowo-Sandiaga camp, through one of its members Ferry Juliantono, said that the statement issued by Rizieq Shihab is merely a spiritual guidance for the Muslims that were present in the 212 reunion rally.