Islam Defenders Front (FPI) leader Rizieq Shihab on Thursday rejected charges against him at the Central Jakarta District Court over the National Monument (Monas) attack last June.

Prosecutor Nurlini told the court Rizieq was responsible for the FPI's violent ambush on activists from the National Alliance for the Freedom of Faith and Religion (AKKBB), who were gathered at Monas on June 1.

Some 70 activists were injured during the attack on the peaceful rally, which was held in support of Muslim sect Ahmadiyah and also to commemorate the 63rd anniversary of the Pancasila state ideology.

Rizieq was charged with violating Criminal Code Articles 170, for ambush, and 156, for inciting hostility, during the Monas attack.

"On May 28, the suspect delivered a speech at the Al-Islam mosque on Jl. Petamburan 3 to several members, asking them to wage war against Ahmadiyah," she said, adding this incited FPI members, thus leading to the attack.

When presiding judge Panusunan Harahap asked Rizieq whether he understood the charges, the FPI leader promptly replied he did not understand them.

"I don't get it. What violence? I was not at Monas on that day, and if I am charged for inciting hostility, then the President, who campaigns against corruption, is also guilty of inciting hatred against corrupt officials!" he said.

Nurlini said prosecutors would call 38 witnesses, but the presiding judge asked them to narrow their selection to only relevant witnesses.

Achmad Michdan, one of 22 lawyers representing the FPI, said he was confident the witnesses did not have strong evidence to prove Rizieq's alleged involvement in the attack.

"The witnesses are not a problem for us," he said.

He added the lawyers had filed a complaint over the Jakarta Prosecutor's Office's late request to extend Rizieq's detention.

"The detention ended on August 19, but we received the request for an extension on August 20," he said.

On Wednesday, an attorney from the Jakarta Prosecutor's Office filed a document at city police headquarters to shift Rizieq from prosecutor-mandated detention to court-mandated detention, effective for 30 days from August 12.