Jakarta – The Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) emphatically opposes the Draft Law on the Elimination of Sexual Violence believing that it contains Western feminist ideas which are anti-religion and has the potential to legalise Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) activities.

Noval Dhwinuari Antony, Jakarta – Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko believes that there is an armed group and political axis that is exploiting the issue of racism to ferment riots in Papua. The Free Papua Movement (OPM) is one of them.

Makassar – Students living at the Papuan dormitory in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar clashed with a group of people from an ormas (social or mass organisations) this evening, Monday August 19.

Jakarta – The creation of NKRI bersyariah – the Unitary Islamic State of the Republic of Indonesia – one of the recommendations of the 4th Ijtimak Ulama or assembly of Islamic clerics has attracted controversy and opposition.

Fakhrizal Fakhri, Jakarta – The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) opposes the Draft Presidential Regulation (Perpres) on the Indonesian Military’s (TNI) role in Overcoming Terrorism which will soon be signed by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

Zunita Putri, Bogor – The Ijtimak Ulama IV or the 4th Assembly of Islamic Clerics has issued a number of recommendations on the current situation in Indonesia. The assembly has also invited the Islamic community to create a Unitary Islamic State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI Bersyariah) based on Pancasila.

Muhammad Taufiqqurahman, Makassar – A group calling itself the Indonesian Muslim Brigade (BMI) has seized books they say smack of communism from a Gramedia bookstore in the South Sulawesi capital of Makassar, including books by Franz Magnis-Suseno.

Danu Damarjati, Jakarta – TNI (Indonesian military) commander Air Martial Hadi Tjahjanto conveyed his hope for closer military ties with Australia at the annual 2019 Australia-Indonesia High Level Committee (Ausindo HLC) forum in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta.

Danu Damarjati, Jakarta – A survey has found that victims of sexual harassment range from women wearing revealing clothing to those that are modestly dressed, including 17 percent who were wearing the hijab (Islamic headscarf or veil).

Jakarta – The 212 Alumni Brotherhood (PA 212) says that it no longer affiliated Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) Chairperson Prabowo Subianto and will continue with its own struggle.

Mukhlis Dinillah, Bandung – The West Java Ministry of Justice and Human Rights representative office (Kemenkum HAM Jabar) is proposing a special way to handle inmates who have a deviant sexual orientation. Inmates who practice homosexually and lesbianism will be moved to separate cells.

Mukhlis Dinillah, Bandung – The West Java Ministry of Justice and Human Rights representative office has found signs of deviant sex being committed by inmates at a number of correctional institutions and prisons as a result of overcrowding.

Jakarta – The draft Aceh qanun (bylaw) legalising polygamy has attracted support and opposition. Some believe that the qanun needs to be supported providing that it includes stipulations on the husband behaving fairly towards his wives.

Agus Setyadi, Banda Aceh – A Base Jam concert on the closing night of the 2019 Aceh Culinary Festival (ACF) has been closed down by a hardline Islamic group. The band, which gained fame through hit songs such as Not Pujangga, decided to leave the stage after the third song.

Zunita Putri, Jakarta – The Denny JA Indonesian Survey Circle (LSI) predicts that there will be 14 possible contenders for the 2024 presidential election.

Samsudhuha Wildansyah, Jakarta – Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) General Chairperson Sobri Lubis has called on supporters to prepare themselves for and take part in a long-term constitutional jihad (holy war) if incumbent President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is declared the winner of the 2019 presidential election.

Ray Jordan, Jakarta – Riots broke out at the Polewali Mandar Class IIB Prison in Polewali Mandar regency, West Sulawesi, on Saturday June 22 over of a requirement that inmates seeking parole must be able to read the Koran.

The Justice and Human Rights Ministry has removed Polewali Mandar prison warden Haryoto over the affair.

Mochamad Zhacky, Jakarta – The Alumni Brotherhood 212 (PA 212), the National Movement to Safeguard the Indonesian Ulema Council’s Fatwa (GNPF-MUI) and a number of other Islamic groups will hold an action to safeguard the final hearing of a challenge to the presidential election result at the Constitutional Court (MK) on June 28.

Haris Fadhil, Jakarta – One of the witnesses that was to be presented by the legal team representing the loosing 02 presidential ticket of Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno, Haris Azhar, has refused to testify at a challenge to the presidential election (pilpres) result at the Constitutional Court.

Jakarta – The margin of victory claimed by the 02 loosing ticket of Prabowo Subianto and running mate Sandiaga Uno in the 2019 presidential election keeps changing.