Islam is a blessing for all creations and a source of peace in the world. 'Islam wasathiyyah'Jakarta (ANTARA) - Mahfud MD, Indonesia's top security minister, commanded security agencies to ensure safety of ulemas nationwide while adjudging the attacker of charismatic Muslim preacher sheikh Ali Jaber as an enemy of peace and destroyer of unity.
To this end, the attacker should face a fair and transparent trial at court, and the police should expose networks behind him, he noted in a statement that ANTARA quoted in Jakarta on Monday.
Sheikh Ali Jaber became a stab victim of a knife attack while attending an Islamic mass gathering at Falahudin Mosque in Suka Jawa neighborhood of Tanjung Karang Barat Sub-district, Bandar Lampung City, Lampung Province, on Sunday.
However, this popular ulema suffered a minor injury to his right arm during the sudden attack launched by Alfin Andrian, 24, while he was engaged in conversation onstage with two of the event’s participants.
According to a video of the incident circulated on YouTube channel, Andrian, who reportedly resides not far from the mosque, was caught by several of the event’s participants shortly after attacking Ali Jaber.
Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD stated that the government guarantees the freedom of ulemas to continue to deliver sermons and preach Muslim community members throughout Indonesia.
Sheikh Ali Jaber is an ulema, who has increasingly assisted the government in disseminating the messages of "amar ma'ruf nahi munkar" (prescribing what is right and prohibiting what is wrong) within the format of "Islam rahmatan lil 'alamin".
"Islam is a blessing for all creations and a source of peace in the world. 'Islam wasathiyyah'," Mahfud MD stated, adding that the attacker's identity and motives for launching the sudden assault must soon be exposed.
Sheikh Ali Jaber is an ulema, who has actively assisted the government. Moreover, he had also delivered pre-iftar sermons and had fast-breaking gatherings with President Joko Widodo, President Susilo Bambang Yudyonono, and top leaders of the government's bodies, he stated.
Speaking in connection with this incident, Tanjung Karang Barat Police Chief Adjunct Commissioner David Sianipar had stated earlier that Sheikh Ali Jaber was admitted to the Gedong Air Public Health Center for administering medical treatment for the wound he incurred during the assault, while the attacker was detained.
The local police investigator grilled the suspect to explore the motives behind his sudden knife attack, Sianipar stated.
Born in Medina, Saudi Arabia, on Feb 3, 1976, Sheikh Ali Jaber, whose complete name is Ali Saleh Mohammed Ali Jaber, is widely known as a Muslim preacher and ulema.
Ali Jaber holds an Indonesian citizenship. He is immensely popular among Indonesian Muslims as a juror of Quran memorization contests on the country's TV stations.
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EDITED BY INE
Translator: Boyke LW, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
