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| Southeast Asia |
| Banning Islamic Defenders Front: Overdue yet Overreaching; FPI Changes Name |
| 2021-01-30 |
| January 8, 2021 [BenarNews] Indonesia’s ban on the hardline Islamic Defenders Front (Front Pembela Islam, FPI) is the latest in a string of long-overdue efforts to curb the power of a group viewed as a catalyst of rising intolerance in the country. The new stronger stance against FPI — although welcome — may not reduce its socio-political influence; on the contrary, the ban may further radicalize key FPI supporters. Moreover, the move is part of a worrying trend of the executive unilaterally banning civil society organizations. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |