SCTV Widely Criticized for Giving In to FPI

Harsh criticisms, including from moderate Muslims, of both the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) and SCTV’s decision to cancel broadcasting the controversial film “?” were not in short supply on Monday.

Members of Indonesia’s largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, which initially had issues with the film, were among those highly critical of the decision to cancel the broadcast scheduled for tonight.

“Indonesia is a law-abiding country. The authorities should have given security protection to SCTV,” said Nusron Wahid, the chairman of NU’s Ansor Youth Movement, according to a statement sent to the Jakarta Globe by Andreas Harsono of the Human Rights Watch.

Andreas was present at the meeting on Saturday afternoon between SCTV and FPI representatives during which the decision to cancel the film screening was made. The meeting was held after about a hundred FPI members rallied in front of the SCTV building in Senayan.

“If the police guaranteed protection, SCTV wouldn't have been scared and canceled the film,” Nusron added. “Where are the police when you need them?”

Hamzah Sahal, an activist from NU, also regretted the police inaction with regard to the incident. According to FPI, they informed the Jakarta Police on Friday of their plan to “besiege” the SCTV office on Saturday.

“Just imagine if FPI kept rallying in front of SCTV and then GP Ansor came along, wouldn't that have the potential to cause a civil war?” he said.

“For my Catholic, Christian, Buddhist and Hindu brothers and sisters, please know that FPI is a nobody among the nation's Muslim community.”

Both NU members disowned the FPI, which often acts as the moral defender of Islam.
Habib Salim Alatas, the leader of FPI’s Jakarta wing, previously said they did not “understand why SCTV is willing to air ‘?’, while the Indonesian Council of Ulema [MUI] has clearly said the movie damages Islamic values and morale.”

The film is a study of the role and state of Islam in modern Indonesian society

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