Indonesia is expected to disband an Islamist group that calls for state adherence to Shariah law, saying such ideology undermines the notion of a secular state.
Indonesia's chief security minister Wiranto said on Monday that the government had evaluated the group Hizb ut-Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), which allegedly aspires to form an Islamic caliphate in the Muslim-majority nation.
Wiranto said legal steps would now be taken to dismantle HTI.
'The activities of HTI strongly indicate that they are in conflict with the Pancasila and the constitution,' he said.
'Their activities create tensions in society, threaten security and order, and unity,' Wiranto added. He said that the move did not imply government opposition to Islam.
The state's ideology is Panacsila, a belief system which includes belief in God, as well as the principles of democracy, unity and social justice, and allows for religious diversity in a secular system.
Iffa Nur, a spokeswoman for HTI, pleaded against the government action, saying the group merely advocates Islamic teaching, and every group should be allowed to organize freely.
Radical Islamic groups have been on the rise in recent years in the country. Though small, they are perceived as a threat to moderate Islam and Indonesia's pluralistic philosophy.
Today it was announced that the Christian governor of Jakarta has been sentenced to two years in prison by an Indonesian court that found him guilty of blasphemy.
Additional reporting by Reuters
