'Radical' Sermons Fire Up Terrorists: Police Chief
Jakarta. National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian has called for more action to curb "radical sermons" which according to him play an important role in encouraging would-be terrorists.
Indonesia has been on heightened alert since early this year, when a terrorist attack in downtown Jakarta which killed eight people was claimed to be the works of homegrown Islamic State operatives.
Counterterrorism officials have warned that Sunni militants often justify violent terrorist attacks as part of "takfir," or excommunication, of those who have abandoned Islam.
The hardline takfir doctrine is believed to have been spread through radical sermons delivered in mosques everywhere — including inside prisons — in a country which has the largest Muslim population in the world.
"People have the right to say anything they want under a democracy. But if what they say provokes violence, I think we need a solution," Tito said recently.
Seeking tougher actions against terrorist activities, the government has proposed revisions to the existing antiterrorism law to lawmakers at the House of Representatives.
But so far lawmakers have been against the idea of giving antiterrorism officials the power to move against ideologues who deliver these radical sermons, saying such a move would be "unfair" and may lead to further human rights abuses.
"Freedom of speech and expression, the freedom of assembly and the freedom of religion are indeed protected by the 1945 constitution. But there are loopholes that certain groups have taken advantage of to achieve their evil goals," Tito said.
A new antiterrorism bill is expected to be completed in three months. It will seek tougher punishments for convicted terrorists, ranging from longer arrest and detention to revocation of citizenship.
Calls for the revised law to be passed as soon as possible reemerged early last month, when an Islamic State-linked suicide bomber injured a police officer in the Central Java city of Solo.
"Every religion teaches constructive values. But they could have a destructive impact if interpreted carelessly," Tito said.
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