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Gerindra politician meets with fugitive FPI leader Rizieq Shihab in Mecca

Source
Detik News - March 11, 2019

Indah Mutiara Kami, Jakarta – The deputy chairperson of Prabowo Subianto's Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), Fadli Zon, has again met with fugitive Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) leader Habib Rizieq Shihab in Mecca where they posed together making the two-finger salute.

The goodwill meeting was captured in a photograph uploaded by Zon on his Twitter account on March 11 in which Zon and Shihab are seen together in a room.

"Last night there was a goodwill meeting with Imam Besar [the Great Leader] Habib Rizieq Shihab in Mecca", wrote Zon.

The pair can be seen smiling broadly in the photo and raising their thumb and index finger in the form a two-finger salute representing the 02 candidate number of the Prabowo-Sandiaga Uno presidential ticket.

Earlier, Shihab also met with Prabowo-Sandiaga election campaign team (BPN) chairperson former TNI (Indonesian military) commander retired General Djoko Santoso. The meeting took place on Thursday March 7 when Santoso was on a minor Haj pilgrimage to Mecca.

"Essentially this was to tighten up the ranks of support for Prabowo-Sandi", said FPI spokesperson Munarman in responding to a question about the essence of the meeting when contacted by Detik.com by phone on Saturday March 9. (imk/tor)

Notes

Fugitive FPI leader Rizieq Shihab has been hiding in Saudi Arabia for more than a year. Although police have dropped the charges related to an infamous pornography case that first led him to flee the country, he has numerous legal cases pending against him including charges of blasphemy against Christianity and state symbols. On several occasions Prabowo has pledged to bring Shihab home – saying most recently that he would pick him up in his private jet – and clear him of all charges if he wins the 2019 presidential election.

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Fadli Zon-Habib Rizieq Kompak Pose 2 Jari di Mekah".]

Source: https://news.detik.com/berita/d-4462325/fadli-zon-habib-rizieq-kompak-pose-2-jari-di-mekah

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