Chairman Rabithah Admires HRS for Remaining Calm Despite Unfair Sentence

 

Saturday, June 26, 2021

Faktakini.info, Jakarta - Not a murder case, not a case of corrupting state money let alone selling state assets, but Habib Rizieq Shihab was sentenced to a very heavy sentence by the panel of judges Khadwanto et al in the case of a swab test at the Ummi Hospital in Bogor. Dzurriyah or descendants of the Prophet Muhammad SAW was sentenced to 4 years in prison, Thursday (24/6/2021).

Even Basuki Tjahaja Purnama aka Ahok when proven to have blasphemed the Holy Qur'an was only sentenced to 2 years in prison by the panel of judges at the North Jakarta District Court. Meanwhile, Habib Rizieq, was only sentenced to two times the prison sentence for swab tests.

Strong criticism and protests from Muslims and members of the public including the Ulama and Habaib continued to flow heavily on the results of the verdicts which were considered unfair and even unjust, including from the General Chairman of Rabithah Alawiyah Habib Zein Bin Umar bin Smith.

He also expressed his admiration for Habib Rizieq's attitude, who remained calm and elegant even though he had been wrongly sentenced.

Habib Zein considered that the four-year prison sentence for the case that ensnared Habib Rizieq Shihab deserves criticism. Logically, he admitted that it was difficult to understand the reason why the East Jakarta District Court judges sentenced the former FPI chairman to four years in prison for a case related to the swab test.

Habib Zein compared the punishments in a number of corruption cases which were clearly the practice of theft plus the spread of lies to the public.

"I think we need to place this case proportionally. Regardless of who the person is, the state must place the principle of justice that applies to all, not selectively, or sharp down and blunt up," said Habib Zein through his statement, Friday (25/6/ 2021).

According to him, in principle, the legal apparatus should not be pressured by any party. However, as a function of public control, it is still entitled to criticize a number of decisions that are considered inconsistent.

"With the reality of the verdict, we can understand that cases related to swab are more severe than corrupt state officials. This is a precedent that deserves to be seriously questioned, and hurts the principle of justice," said Habib Zen.

On the other hand, he also referred to the consistency of decisions related to cases of forgery of swabs and antigens that were given lighter sentences. This is like the case of counterfeiting antigen letters in Bali which was sentenced to 22 months.

However, Habib Zein asked all parties to continue to uphold the rule of law and law enforcers must also listen to their conscience. Objections to the tribunal's decision should be addressed in a way that is in accordance with the legal corridor. He refused if in the midst of a worsening pandemic there was actually a mass action.

Therefore, Habib Zein appreciates if this case is then brought to the level of appeal. "Because it is a legal case where all decisions follow the judicial mechanism, both at the first level, appeal, and cassation, then the appeal step is a wise step to take," said Habib Zein.

Habib Zein then praised the attitude of Habib Rizieq who still respects the assembly and prosecutors and chooses to use his rights as a citizen to file an appeal. "It should be appreciated. The point is that every citizen has the right to get the same treatment and rights. I commend HRS's attitude of remaining calm and elegant in responding to legal decisions,"

Photo: Habib Zein bin Umar bin Smith

Source: Republika.co.id