REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Bali Regional Police explained alleged persecution case against prominent preacher ustaz Abdul Somad was still being investigated. Police investigators have tried to collect evidences.
"The case is still being further investigated to find and collect evidences," spokesperson of Bali Regional Police, Henky Widjaja said to Republika.co.id, on Wednesday (Sept 5).
Henky said investigators also were still trying to get information from witnesses in from the crime scene. However, the police have not been able to examined them as the witnesses were busy.
"Witnesses of the victim are too busy to testify," Henky said.
Earlier, ustaz Somad said he would not file a police report against those who intimidate his lectures recently. He was upset with previous legal proceedings as the case has not been solved yet.
"No. I just want to calm down. I'm tired. The handling of alleged persecution in Bali has not been completed yet," ustaz Somad said when contacted by Republika.co.id, on Tuesday.
According to ustaz Somad, there was a wiser way beside taking legal step. He chose not to fight back against persecutions.
Ustaz Somad said he did not want any friction in the community, especially Muslims.
"Give it up. God exist," he said.
Ustaz Somad decided to cancel some of his lectures in Central Java, East Java, and Special Administrative Region of Yogyakarta. Through his Instagram account @ustadzabdulsomad, the charismatic preacher admitted that the step was taken as a response to threat and intimidation against his lectures in some regions, namely Grobogan, Kudus, Jepara dan Semarang.
Ustaz Somad said burden faced by the organizing committee was getting heavier. He cancelled the schedule to give lectures in some regions after paying attention to psychological condition of the congregation and himself.
"Therefore, I cancel promises to preach in Malang, Solo, Boyolali, Jombang, and Kediri (September); Yogyakarta (Oktober); and an agreement to give lecture along with ustad Zulfikar in East Java (December),” the Baznas' Tithe Ambassador explained.
Ustaz Somad deplored various incidents of rejection that he experienced. "We are not at a war against Israel. It was just a lecture," the alumni of post-graduate education at the Dar al-Hadith al-Hasaniyyah Institute, Morocco, said.