Islamic Defender Front (FPI) leader Rizieq Syihab resolves his fans upon arrival at the Soekarno Hata Airport in Tangerang, Banten, on Nov. 10, 2020, after a flight from Saudi Arabia. (Antara Photo/Muhammad Iqbal)
BY: THE JAKARTA WORLD
NOVEMBER 10, 2020
Jakarta. Thousands of people surrounded the arrival terminal at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang on Tuesday early morning to welcome Rizieq Syihab– the leader of hardliner Muslim group Islamic Defender Front, or FPI– causing a seven-kilometer line of automobiles stuck in traffic jam heading to the airport.
Rizieq left for Saudi Arabia in May 2017 amid claims of adultery and adult chats, in addition to several legal problems consisting of disparagement and treason worrying his speeches.
The 55- year-old remained an influential figure among President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s political opponents throughout his remain in the Kingdom where he typically got their sees, including one already presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto in the heat of the 2019 election.
He regularly released videos to denounce the Jokowi leadership and launched a series of exposed misinformation about election fraud.
Rizieq got to the airport at around 09.00 a.m. and was accompanied to his home in Petamburan, Central Jakarta.
” I return to rejoin my fellow Indonesian Muslims and because I want to fight along with them,” he informed his advocates outside his home.
He said he will lead the battle for “ethical transformation” versus “unfaithful leaders”.
Rizieq is the “supreme leader” of the FPI, notorious for vandalism and verbal and physical attacks versus people of various faiths. But his support base has broadened beyond the group itself after he led enormous protests against then Jakarta guv Basuki Tjahaja Purnama in 2016-17 over alleged blasphemy and became a staunch critic of the president.
Flight Cancellations
His fans began to flock to the airport considering that around 04.
Some people left their taxis or ride-sharing service automobiles and walked to the airport to catch their flight, however lots of others could not make it.
Among them were pilots and aircrew members, resulting in the cancellation of tens of flights.
Novie Riyanto, the director general of civil aviation, stated 28 flights were cancelled during the early morning but situation went back to normal by midday.
Airport operator closed all the doors at the global arrival terminal to avoid entry by the crowd, who noticeably ignored the physical distancing rule throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Much of them didn’t use face masks.
The government denied on Monday that they had taken measures to avoid Rizieq’s return.
” We didn’t stand in his way when he decided to leave because he deserves to do so. Now as he prepares to return, he is entitled with the right as a citizen,” chief security minister Mahfud M.D. stated.
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