Artists accused of blasphemy<\/p>\n
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
They fight \"infidels\", they rail against city nightlife, and now
\nthey have turned their overzealous worldview against popular soft
\nrock band Dewa.<\/p>\n
However, the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) is not the first
\ngroup that has lashed out at artists over religion, accusing them
\nof blasphemy.<\/p>\n
Last year, musician and working-class hero Iwan Fals outraged
\nthe FIMHD, a Hindu organization, for putting an illustration of
\nthe Hindu God Vishnu on the cover of his album, Manusia 1\/2 Dewa
\n(Demigod).<\/p>\n
Earlier in 2003, the same group, also protested against writer
\nDewi Lestari for putting the holy symbol of the Hindu God Omkara,
\non the cover of her novel, Supernova 2.1: Akar (Root).<\/p>\n
Bowing to the pressure, Dewi, Iwan and Dewa changed their
\ncovers.<\/p>\n
Soft rock band Dewa is now the object of rage from the FPI and
\nseveral Muslim groups, which reported the band to the city police
\nfor contempt of religion on Tuesday, over the use of the word
\nAllah written in Arabic on the cover of its Laskar Cinta (Soldier
\nof Love) album.<\/p>\n
The groups were also outraged when the band members put their
\nfeet (a cultural\/religious sign of great disrespect) on the
\ndesign during a gig, as it was emblazoned on the stage.<\/p>\n
One of the most hostile flare-ups by religious groups against
\nthe entertainment\/arts industry, was a contempt of religion
\nverdict against Monitor tabloid, which included the banning of
\nits publication. Its chief editor was sentenced to four and a
\nhalf years in jail in 1990 for publishing a survey that measured
\nthe popularity of Prophet Muhammad compared to other figures.<\/p>\n
Muslim scholars here are on the side of Dewa, however, in this
\nspat.<\/p>\n
Scholar and sociologist Muhammad Sobary says that arts, no
\nmatter how bad it is, is an effort to pursue and understand the
\nexistence of God.<\/p>\n
\"It's another form of dakwah (preaching). There's nothing
\nwrong with putting Arabic language (on an album cover), it's
\nbeautiful and there is nothing blasphemous in it. Things would be
\ndifferent if the band used profanity and obscenity,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Many Muslim clerics years ago, he added, banned music,
\nsculptures and many other forms of performing arts.<\/p>\n
\"If we tolerate such extremism, arts won't develop,\" Sobary
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Syafiq Hasyim from the International Center for Islam and
\nPluralism (ICIP), said that hardline groups such as the FPI had
\nno right to use religious arguments to attack others as this
\ncountry is not based on a certain religion.<\/p>\n
\"Their objection is a debatable issue. It should be discussed
\nthrough dialog. There should be no power to claim that it is
\nright or wrong,\" he said.<\/p>\n
While Dewa might be wrong for putting their feet on letters of
\nthe Arabic alphabet, he added, still there is no reason for any
\ngroup to claim that such an act is blasphemy.<\/p>\n
Syafiq suggested that the hardliners be allowed to file
\nreports to the police, as they have the right to do so.<\/p>\n
\"If they are unwilling to hold a dialog and negotiate, let
\nthem be. Let the police follow up on the report, but they must do
\nit professionally and consider it a regular report. And let the
\ncourts decide,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Hardline groups will always exist and find ways to voice their
\nbeliefs, but it is not necessary to curb them, Syafiq said.<\/p>\n
\"The government and law enforcers need to keep them from
\nresorting to violence and making use of them for their political
\ninterests,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Sobary said the government should step up efforts to promote
\ntolerance and understanding among people.<\/p>\n
\"It's up to the FPI to be anything they like, but don't
\ncreated conflicts with others. There are many ways to understand
\nGod,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/artists-accused-of-blasphemy-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}