Indonesia: Governor promises arrests for those who carry out ‘Ramadan raids’

Basuki Tjahaja Purnama takes the oath of office to become the governor of Indonesia's capital Jakarta. Pic: AP

SELF-PROCLAIMED "religious police" that carry out illegal Ramadan raids on restaurants and night clubs will be arrested, said Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama on Thursday.

Ahok has assured the public that the so-called moral police, also known as ormas (mass organizations), will be arrested by police should they attempt raids during the holy month of Ramadan.

According to Berita Jakarta, he said: "The police chief have already guaranteed it. If they (ormas) do any raids, they will be arrested. All of them arrested."

"The chief of police has already affirmed it, so there will be no raids. That is the task of the police," he added.

Indonesia has a number of ormas, or mass organizations, that take it upon themselves to raid venues they deem to be unholy or disrespectful of Ramadan. Groups such as the Islamic Defense Front (FPI) in Jakarta and Wilayatul Hisbah in Aceh regularly organize the raids on "sinful" bars, hotels, and even on inappropriately dressed people.

In June 2015, the FPI promised not to conduct any raids, but called on the authorities to "do their job so we don't have to" during the holy month.

Their announcement came after an illegal raid against gambling and prostitution in Central Java during Ramadan 2013, which led to the death of a motorist who was hit by an FPI car at the scene. Two members of the group were arrested and sentenced to four months in prison for the incident, reported Tempo.

Zainal Abidin Petir, head of the FPI's Central Java faction, laid the blame squarely on the authorities, saying: "The sweeping raid was conducted since law enforcers ignored gambling and prostitution practices."

Ahok's promise may be met with skepticism considering his position has been strongly opposed by Muslim hardliners in the country. In 2014, he became the first Christian to be sworn in as Jakarta's governor in 50 years, a position that hardliners insisted should have been reserved for a Muslim.

Source: Indonesia: Governor promises arrests for those who carry out 'Ramadan raids'