Analysts oppose call for only male Moslem presidents<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Political observers opposed on Saturday the
\nrecommendation by a group of Moslem clerics that Indonesia's
\npresident and vice president must be male Moslems.<\/p>\n
Political professor Muhammad Budyatna and Moslem politician
\nAmien Rais argued against the recommendation issued by a
\ncommission during the Indonesian Moslem Congress which ended on
\nSaturday.<\/p>\n
Budyatna believed the stance was meant to be a deliberate
\nmaneuver against popular politician Megawati Soekarnoputri, who
\nchairs a faction of the splintered Indonesian Democratic Party
\n(PDI). He said the stance did not reflect the opinion of the
\nwhole Indonesian Moslem community.<\/p>\n
\"It should not be a problem whether the president is a man or
\na woman. The most important thing is that he or she must be a
\ndemocratic leader,\" Budyatna, deputy chairman of the Moslems
\nParty, said as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
But Megawati on Sunday declined to comment on the issue. At a
\nfunction at the party's West Jakarta branch she only told
\nfollowers that \"there is no need to respond\" to various issues.<\/p>\n
Budyatna, also former dean of the University of Indonesia's
\nSchool of Sociopolitical Sciences, suggested the view be treated
\nas merely the opinion of a group of Moslems rather than as a rule
\nthat bound the whole community.<\/p>\n
He supported some Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) activists who
\nreportedly considered the stance sexist and against women's
\npolitical emancipation.<\/p>\n
\"It is true women cannot become Imam (leaders) in Moslem
\nrituals ... however it should not be generalized and assumed as a
\nfact in political affairs.\"<\/p>\n
\"A woman can become a leader of a Moslem-dominant country,
\nlike Pakistan,\" he said, adding that men who had led Indonesia
\nproved to be authoritarian. \"We should give both men and women
\nequal opportunity to become the state's leaders,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In Surabaya, Amien Rais, who has announced he is running for
\nthe presidency, highlighted a principle in Islam that recognizes
\nexceptions. If a country did not have capable male leaders, then
\nwomen could lead.<\/p>\n
Amien, who chairs the National Mandate Party (PAN), said the
\npublic needed to respect the congress' stance, given how it was
\nachieved through intensive deliberations by respected clerics,
\nbut added that some Islamic countries such as Bangladesh and
\nPakistan had had women leaders.<\/p>\n
Amien did not believe the clerics were specifically targeting
\nMegawati. The issue discussed was \"a fundamental one, but there's
\nalways an exception,\" he said. \"The question is now whether there
\nare any capable men in Indonesia.\"<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, former home affairs minister Rudini said he
\nbelieved a woman could not be president, but should have the
\nopportunity to become vice president.<\/p>\n
\"The rule that a leader must be a man is stipulated in the
\nHoly Koran,\" Rudini, also former Army chief of staff, said.<\/p>\n
Deputy chairman of the Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI), Ali
\nYafie, said the issue would be discussed further by the council.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged the congress' participants were also divided
\nover the issue, which was why it was not one of the gathering's
\nofficial recommendations. (imn\/swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/analysts-oppose-call-for-only-male-moslem-presidents-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}