Islamic Defender Front

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Islamic Defender Front (Front Pembela Islam/FPI) is a hard-line Islamic group in Indonesia known for violent actions.

Many believe that FPI related to a wide variety of vandalism in Indonesia. There are a lot of requests by Indonesian including Muslim communities to prohibit them operating in Indonesia.

[edit] Controversy

Criticism of FPI's methods have mainly centered on their violent tactics. The FPI have conducted yearly raids during the holy month of Ramadan, targeting night clubs, bars and other various venues "not respectful of the holy month". The violent raids are often covered by local electronic and print media, with scenes of billiard tables turned and shop attendees beaten on their heads bleeding ^{[citation needed]}.

On April 2006 they attacked Playboy's office in Jakarta, Indonesia by throwing stones. They protested the very first publication of the magazine even though it contained no nudity and was considered tamer than other magazines already operating in the country for a while (FHM, Popular, Maxim).

In early 2006 there were public urges by the general public for the disbanding of the FPI. Nothing came out of them.