Indonesian President Joko Widodo issued a decree granting him sweeping powers to ban Islamist groups and imprison the groups' members, The Australian reported July 13. The decree allows him to ban groups that threaten national unity, amending a previous law that requires a yearlong process to ban groups. Islamist group Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia, which Widodo tried to ban on May 8, will challenge the new powers in the courts, and legislators have 6 months to veto the law. These powers allow Widodo to limit the ability of his opposition to use hardline Islamist groups against the ruling coalition as the country gets ready for gubernatorial elections in November.