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Batam police watch preachers
Police in Batam are beginning to monitor sermons as part of their security measures, drawing protests from the local ulema council
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Police in Batam are beginning to monitor sermons as part of their security measures, drawing protests from the local ulema council.
Meanwhile the National Police denied Monday earlier reports of planning to watch over sermons as part of efforts to curb terrorism, following an uproar against the plan.
In Batam, provincial police chief Sr. Comr. Leonidas Braksan said Monday that police were "merely ensuring that all activities run smoothly" during Ramadan.
"Our focus is not just on the content of the preaching but also other things, including security and traffic,” Leonidas said.
Just before Ramadan, which began last Saturday for most Indonesian Muslims, Leonidas said his office had consulted with all preachers and had jointly agreed against making "provocative" speeches.
After the breaking of the fast, mosques are usually full of people praying, who listen to the sermons before the special evening prayers.
The Riau Islands branch of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), however, protested the recent placing of police in mosques.
On Monday, the MUI's Azahari Abbas told The Jakarta Post that the measure was an exaggerated reaction to threats of terrorism.
“We understand the police are doing [their monitoring] as part of curbing terrorism. But it has created an image of Islam being synonymous with terrorism,” Azahari said.
“They are moving back to the New Order era, when as a cleric I was required to report what I was going to say to my audience.”
Azahari added that of the seven regencies and municipalities in Riau province, police monitoring of sermons was only taking place in Batam. The island is a short ferry ride from Singapore, where US President Barack Obama is expected to arrive in November for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation talks.
Singaporean and Indonesian police separately denied Monday "rumors" of terrorist plans to target Obama or the regional talks.
Azahari said that of 800 preachers available for Ramadan in Riau, none had spread hatred.
"There is no preaching on the wrongly perceived jihad,” he said. The Criminal Code says that any act considered to incite hatred is punishable with up to a year in jail.
In Jakarta, National Police chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri said he had never issued orders to monitor sermons.
"Such monitoring is obviously within the authority of the Religious Affair Ministry. We are ready to provide assistance whenever needed,” he told a press conference Monday.
Religious Affairs Minister Maf-tuh Basyuni said his office would report to the police any preacher whose sermons raised suspicions.
Last week, National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Nanan Soekarna said the police had decided to monitor sermons to prevent abuse of religious messages.
