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.

Pebriansyah Ariefana and Stephanus Aranditio – The Jakarta Nahdlatul Ulama Indonesia (UNUSIA) Research and Social Service Institute (LPPM) has found that trans-national exclusive Islamic groups have infiltrated eight state tertiary institutions (PTN). There are concerns that this movement will create radicalism among students.

Jakarta – The Save Jakarta Bay Coalition, which was established by activists, students and fisherpeople, held an action in front of the Jakarta City Hall on Monday June 24 opposing the issuance of building permits (IMB) for land on reclamation project islets in North Jakarta.

Ayu Cipta, Tangerang – A photograph of a public notice stating the shariah (Islamic Law) principles applied by the Tangerang Public Hospital has gone viral on social media.

According to the latest survey by pollster Cyrus Indonesia, only 70 percent of Indonesians accept Pancasila as the country’s ideology and a unifying viewpoint for all citizens.

Jakarta – The current religious discourse among student groups at a number of state tertiary institutions (PTN) is largely dominated by Islamic study groups (tarbiyah) and former members of the radical Islamic organisation Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) which after being banned by the government has transformed itself into a tarbiyah act

Fabian Januarius Kuwado, Jakarta – The Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkumham) Directorate General of Immigration has confirmed that presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto briefly visited Brunei Darussalam on Thursday May 16.

Theresia Felisiani, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Security, Politics and Legal Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Wiranto has guaranteed that any legal measures taken by the government based on recommendations by the recently formed legal assistance team will be clear and measured.

Jakarta -- Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo has denied accusations that law enforcement officials are using the makar (treason, sedition, subversion, rebellion) article like a “fire sale” (obral). Prasetyo believes that the use of the makar article in several recent cases are in accordance with the facts.

Pekanbaru – The Pekanbaru City Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) in Riau province has again embarked on a moral crusade by sweeping boarding houses and internet cafes that remain open late at night during the holy fasting month of Ramadan on Thursday May 16.

Jakarta – Indonesian Police Chief (Kapolri) General Tito Karnavian is threatening to use the maker (treason, subversion, sedition) articles to deal with mass movements or people’s power protests which have been called for by several parties following the April 17 presidential and legislative elections (pemilu).

Jakarta – An online petition titled “Stop Ijin FPI” (No Permit for the Islamic Defenders Front) has appeared on the change.org website.

Jakarta – The mayor of the Acehnese provincial capital Banda Aceh, Aminullah Usman, has prohibited coffee shops from serving customers during shalat tarawih (evening prayers) during the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Eva Mazrieva, Washington DC – In mid-April Reporters Without Borders (RSF) released its annual report and world press freedom index. Surprisingly, Indonesia was still in 124th place meaning press freedom has stagnated and there has been absolutely no progress since 2018.

Datuk Haris Molana, Lhokseumawe – Protesters from the Malikussaleh University Law Students Alliance held a commemoration of May Day in Lhokseumawe, North Aceh. The demonstrators called on the government to revoke Government Regulation Number 78/2015 on Wages and to prioritise local workers at state-owned companies in Aceh.

Agus Setyadi, Banda Aceh – The Brunei Darussalam sultanate has enacted laws ranging from canning to stoning to death for the crime of homosexuality. Prior to enacting the laws, Brunei conducted comparative studies in Aceh to learn about Islamic law.

The following is a statement by the Yogyakarta International Women’s Day (IWD) Committee on the University of North Sumatra’s (USU) censoring of the Suara USU (Voice of USU) student press.

Surabaya – Dangdut singer Rhoma Irama touched on the Draft Law on the Elimination of Sexual Violence (RUU PKS) in a speech at a campaign rally for presidential hopeful Prabowo Subianto and running mate Sandiaga Uno at the Delta Sidoarjo Sports Stadium in the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya on Sunday March 31.

Dwi Andayani, Jakarta – The country’s peak Islamic body the Indonesia Ulama Council (MUI) has declared that taking a position of golput – to abstain from voting – in the elections is haram (forbidden under the Islamic law).

Muhammad Fida Ul Haq, Jakarta – The country’s peak Islamic body the Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI) has reiterated that the fatwa (edict) declaring that golput – to abstain from voting – is haram (forbidden under God’s law) that was issued at the Assembly of Islamic Scholars in Padang in 2014 is still valid.