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Hizbut Tahrir to challenge disbandment by government
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Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia members and sympathizers of Islamic organizations from Greater Jakarta stage a rally to protest the 2017 Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) on Mass Organizations in Jakarta on July 17. (JP/Ibrahim Irsyad)
M
uslim group Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) is set to file a lawsuit with the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN) to challenge the revocation of its legal entity status and instruction to disband by the government, the group’s lawyer Yusril Ihza Mahendra has said.
“We know that our position is weak in facing the government, which has used the Perppu. We shouldn’t give up on upholding justice, however. We shouldn’t let a dictatorship exist in this country,” said Yusril, referring to the Regulation in a Lieu of Law (Perppu) No.2/2017 on Mass Organizations, in a written statement on Wednesday, a couple hours after the government announced the official banning of the HTI.
The government believes HTI contravenes the Pancasila state ideology as it promotes the Islamic caliphate (Islamic state). By issuing Perppu No.2 on July 10, the government gave the authority to the Law and Human Rights Ministry to disband all mass organizations regarded as contravening Pancasila without due process of law.
(Read also: Islamic group Hizbut Tahrir condemns disbandment by government)
The HTI filed a judicial review with the Constitutional Court to challenge the Perppu on Tuesday. However, Yusril said the group should take other legal steps because with the disbandment, it no longer had legal standing to file a judicial review.
“We’re preparing the best step for the next action,” said the former law and human rights minister.
The Perppu has become a controversial issue and triggered condemnation from the public and rights groups as they are worried it could threaten the freedom of association and expression. (ebf)
