REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — West Java Police and Garut Police held open expose on tawheed (Laa Ilaha Ilallah, the oneness of God) flag burning case, which stated by police as former Islamic mass organization Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) flag. Based on the result, people involved in the case declared innocent.

“The three Banser member can’t be suspected of committing criminal act because one of the elements, namely evil intentions, is not fulfilled," National Police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo said on Thursday (Oct 25).

Therefore, the two flag burners and chairman of the committe who were secured by police remained set as witnesses. Banser members seized the flag spontaneously when they saw HTI flag during the 2018 National Santri Day commemoration, police said.

Also read: Jokowi leaves tawheed flag burning case to the police

“From the beginning, they prohibit participants from carrying other attributes other than the red and white flag, including HTI and ISIS flag,” Dedi added.

However, they were people who deliberately carried HTI flags and raised it during National Santri Day event in Garut, West Java. People at the scene immediately withdrew the man who raised the flag and asked to him leave the event.

“The three people spontaneously burned the flag with the consideration that the flag was HTI flag so it could not be used again," Dedi said.

Therefore, Dedi said the incident happened as quick response. Police once again did not find bad intention in this case.

Earlier, Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) stated the flag that was burned in the incident was tawheed flag and did not see it as HTI symbol. MUI also asked perpetrators of the incident to apologize and admit their mistake to Muslims.

"The flag that was burned was bearing tawheed sentence and there was no HTI symbol on it,” said MUI deputy chairman Yunahar Ilyas.

Meanwhile, GP Ansor chairman Yaqut Cholil Qoumas confirmed there was video of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Garut Banser members who burned a flag that allegedly owned by Islamic mass organization Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) that has been disbanded. The incident drew public attention as the flag is considered belongs to all Muslims.

Meanwhile, PBNU chairman Sulton Fatoni said that HTI flag burning was an effort to glorify tawheed sentence. “What Banser did was an attempt to glorify tawheed sentence, because HTI flag has abused tawheed sentence,” said Sulton.

Sulton said the flag was secured from HTI which misused it for political purposes. Nevertheless, he considered Banser members reaction not sympathetic.

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