Cece seeks heaven through 'jihad'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): People may find it hard to believe that a youth,
\nwho still has a bright future, sacrifices himself for his
\npersonal religious belief.<\/p>\n
Cece Amin, a youth in his twenties, quit his job at a paper
\nfactory in Tungkal, Jambi, last month, after deciding to
\nparticipate in the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama'ah Muslim organization's
\ncampaign to help settle the prolonged communal clashes in Maluku
\nthat the government has been unable to resolve.<\/p>\n
\"I have been disturbed over the religious conflict in Maluku
\nwhere many of my Muslim brothers were killed,\" he told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Maluku has been engulfed by religious conflict since early
\n1999, resulting in the deaths of thousands.<\/p>\n
The conflict is not over yet, as three more people were
\nrecently killed in North Maluku.<\/p>\n
Student and Muslim organizations, including the Ahlus Sunnah
\nwal Jama'ah, have aired their concerns over the government's
\nsluggish moves to resolve the conflicts. The organization has
\nannounced it is ready to send its \"troops\" to the riot-torn
\nareas.<\/p>\n
The organization staged a rally on Thursday at the Senayan
\nSports Stadium and the State Palace, both in Central Jakarta,
\ndemanding the government immediately resolve the conflicts.<\/p>\n
Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama'ah, an Islamic sect that has a large
\nworldwide membership, claims to have thousands of members
\nthroughout Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Cece is one of some 10,000 youths, who have declared their
\nreadiness to be sent to the trouble spots in Maluku at the end of
\nthis month. The sending of \"troops\" will be arranged by the
\norganization.<\/p>\n
After quitting his job, Cece went to Yogyakarta to apply for
\nmembership at the organization secretariat in Kaliurang.<\/p>\n
Clad in the white dress and sandals of a Muslim, Cece was seen
\ncarrying a big bag, apparently containing clothes and other
\npersonal stuff, in Thursday's rally.<\/p>\n
A machete bearing his name \"Cece Amin, Jambi\", lay on the
\nbench where he was sitting.<\/p>\n
\"Life in this world is transitory. We'll meet eternity after
\njudgment day. I hope that I can find peace after judgment day. I
\nam preparing for that now,\" he said with a steady gesture.<\/p>\n
However, no expressions of violence or antipathy were seen on
\nhis face.<\/p>\n
Some Muslims believe that participation in jihad (holy war) is
\ninstructed by God. They believe that once Islam is facing
\nthreats, they will be ready to confront the dangers.<\/p>\n
However, the majority of Muslims now have a different
\nperception of jihad, the term introduced by prophet Muhammad to
\nMuslims to defend themselves against threats of war by jahiliyah
\n(bad people). They perceive combating corruption and collusive
\npractices, and hard work to pursue good economic status also as
\njihad.<\/p>\n
Cece is scheduled to conduct military training in Bogor, some
\n60 kilometers south of here, before going to Maluku on April 21.<\/p>\n
\"I was told by a committee member that we will be trained and
\nwear military style clothes,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He is one of other Muslim youths who have the same beliefs.<\/p>\n
\"Three thousand youths will be sent to Maluku on April 21. The
\nremaining 7,000 will be sent there the following day,\" Heri
\nAshari Azis, another member of the organization, said.<\/p>\n
The brief talk with Cece ended as a youth shouted at Cece's
\ngroup, ordering them to get on a bus that would leave for Bogor.<\/p>\n
Cece shook the Post's reporter's hand warmly, said
\n\"Assalammu'allaikum\" (Peace be unto you), and left the scene.
\n(asa)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/cece-seeks-heaven-through-jihad-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}