Indonesian government to dissolve Islamic group Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia

JAKARTA, Indonesia — The government of President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo has taken the bold move of announcing they will dissolve an Islamic group called Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (“HTI”). 

HTI advocates for the re-establishment of the Islamic Caliphate and the institution of sharia law in Indonesia.

“The government needs to take decisive legal action to dissolve Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia,” said Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto in a press conference at the ministry’s office on Monday, May 8.

According to Wiranto, HTI’s activities go against Indonesia’s national ideology of Pancasila and the 1945 constitution. Wiranto also said that HTI has broken laws regarding civil society organizations.

“As an organization with legal standing, HTI has not played a positive role in national development,” continued Wiranto.

HTI’s activities are also seen as a threat to national unity. “HTI’s activities has created societal conflict that in turn threatens security, order and endangers unity,” said Wiranto.

In the press conference, Wiranto emphasized that this move does not mean that the government is against Islamic groups in general. The decision, he said, was made to maintain the unity of Indonesia that is based on Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution.

What will the dissolvement process entail? Wiranto said the government will proceed according to the existing legal framework.

“The process will be submitted to the courts,” said Wiranto. “So it is fair. The government is not acting arbitrarily but according to prevailing laws.” —Rappler.com