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Island focus: Saudi authorities grill Rizieq over flag

Security agencies in Saudi Arabia have questioned Rizieq Shihab, a firebrand cleric who has been in self-exile in the country, over reports about the installation of an Islamist flag at his house in Mecca, the Foreign Ministry has said

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta
Thu, November 8, 2018

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Island focus: Saudi authorities grill Rizieq over flag

S

ecurity agencies in Saudi Arabia have questioned Rizieq Shihab, a firebrand cleric who has been in self-exile in the country, over reports about the installation of an Islamist flag at his house in Mecca, the Foreign Ministry has said.

Indonesian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Agus Maftuh Abegebriel said he received a report on the detention of the cleric on Monday.

“Our staff were eventually informed that Mecca Police went to Rizieq’s house on Monday morning to investigate the allegation of the installation of a black flag that resembles the flag of Islamist extremist groups on the rear side of his house,” Agus said in a statement on Wednesday.

Later that afternoon, Mecca Police and Saudi Arabia’s General Investigation Directorate personnel took Rizieq for questioning to a nearby police station, where he was eventually detained.

Indonesia’s representative office in Jeddah dispatched staff to provide legal assistance to Rizieq. Saudi authorities released Rizieq on bail at around 8 p.m. local time on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia has banned the display of flags and materials resembling those used by extremists, including the Islamic State (IS) group.

The firebrand cleric and leader of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) has been in Saudi Arabia for more than a year. In September, the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh said Rizieq had overstayed his visa to the country, according to a statement issued in response to complaints from his supporters who claimed that restrictions had been imposed on the activities of the FPI leader in Mecca.

Rizieq had been charged by Indonesian police with violating the 2008 Pornography Law in May 2017. However, Rizieq had already fled to Saudi Arabia and refused to return to Indonesia, despite being summoned by police several times. The police dropped the case in June, citing a lack of evidence.

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