Govt, Muslims must combat terrorist stigma<\/p>\n
Debbie A. Lubis, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Muslim scholars have suggested that the government and Muslim
\norganizations take concrete action to counter the "terrorist
\nhotbed" stigma attached to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Azyumardi Azra, rector of the Islamic University, formerly the
\nSyarif Hidayatullah Institute of Islamic Studies, said the
\nmainstream Muslim organizations should be assertive in embracing
\nthe hardline groups through training or enlightenment to promote
\ntolerance, human rights, and democracy.<\/p>\n
"It is not enough condemning terrorism in a press statement or
\ndiscussion.<\/p>\n
"The U.S. way is of course different from ours. Here, we are
\nmore comfortable with the Javanese way, which is soft and
\npersuasive. We cannot confront or condemn certain people in front
\nof the public," he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Azyumardi said the government should be able to address the
\ncore problems of radicalism through law enforcement and peaceful
\ncampaigns involving religious leaders and the mass media.<\/p>\n
"The presence of militant Muslims is just a phenomenon in
\nJava, and they are noticed only because they shout the loudest,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Azyumardi said the government needed to cooperate with other
\ncountries in dealing with terrorism through exchanges of
\ninformation about suspected terrorists and measures to prevent
\nthem from crossing a country's border.<\/p>\n
Separately, noted religious leader Solahudin Wahid regretted
\nthe fact that global citizens had taken for granted the
\nperception that Indonesia was a terrorist hotbed.<\/p>\n
"Actually Islam is not equal with violence. The hardline
\ngroups here, which are not significant in number, stands out
\nbecause of the malfunctioning security apparatus who can't or
\nwon't enforce the law," he told the Post.<\/p>\n
According to Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) chairman Amidhan,
\nMuslim hardliners made up only one percent of the country's
\npopulation of 210 million.<\/p>\n
Solahudin suggested a periodic dialog among religious
\norganizations to communicate their aspirations and define the
\nclear direction of their respective struggles.<\/p>\n
"It is also important for foreign countries to host the
\nhardline groups and share ideas about many things," he said.<\/p>\n
On allegations that terrorists roam free in Indonesia,
\nSolahudin urged foreign countries to provide detailed information
\nabout the terrorist network here.<\/p>\n
"It is possible the terrorists are taking shelter here but
\nit's difficult to believe that the hardline groups are part of
\ntheir groups. Those hardliners commonly take to the streets to
\nprotest against the unjust and disappointing government," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Young Muslim scholar Ulil Abshar Abdallah said that Muslims
\nneeded an image to counter the stigma.<\/p>\n
"All they have to do is communicate and express their ideas
\nabout how moderate and tolerant they are through publishing
\nbooks, writing articles and speaking at international events," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Ulil asserted people of different faiths in the country should
\nmaintain pluralism, but avoid the use of violence when it comes
\nto promoting ideas.<\/p>\n
Ayip Syarifuddin of the hardline Laskar Jihad group said that
\nhis organization did not intend to be involved in conflicts and
\nwanted to focus on education and social work instead, leaving
\nsecurity and law enforcement affairs with the government.<\/p>\n
"It was our mistake for brandishing swords and other weapons
\nonce in a rally. But no matter how soft we are now, people are
\nstill suspicious of us. We have held dialogs with the U.S.
\ndiplomats here, what should we do next?" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-muslims-must-combat-terrorist-stigma-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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