Govt studying demands to ban Moslem sect<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government says it is studying the demands
\nmade by a number of Moslem organizations to ban the activities of
\nthe Darul Arqam, a flourishing Moslem sect with headquarters in
\nMalaysia.<\/p>\n
Attorney General Singgih said on Saturday that the fate of
\nDarul Arqam will be determined at a coordination meeting
\nscheduled for tomorrow involving his office, the Ministry of
\nReligious Affairs, the Armed Forces and the Indonesian Moslem
\nCouncil (MUI).<\/p>\n
The MUI, the influential umbrella organization of a number of
\nMoslem groups, has issued a recommendation that the government
\nban the sect nationwide. The sect has already been banned in West
\nSumatra and Aceh but it is flourishing in other parts of Sumatra
\nand Java, particularly among educated youths.<\/p>\n
Singgih, responding to the calls for a nationwide ban, said
\nthere were a number of procedures which the government would have
\nto take before moving to ban any particular organization.<\/p>\n
Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher has also supported
\nthe call to ban Darul Arqam, more popularly known in Malaysia as
\nthe Al Arqam.<\/p>\n
Al Arqam founding leader Ashaari Muhammad, currently living in
\nexile in Thailand, recently announced his intention to return to
\nMalaysia and to challenge the national leadership, promising he
\nwill lead the country one day.<\/p>\n
His announcement sent ripples as far as Indonesia, where he
\nhas thousands of followers and the government has been keeping a
\nclose watch on their activities.<\/p>\n
Minister Tarmizi has already announced that Ashaari is barred
\nfrom entering Indonesia for political reasons.<\/p>\n
Al Arqam's followers in Indonesia, while revering their leader
\nAshaari, say that the organization in Indonesia is apolitical,
\nfocusing more on promoting the welfare of the Moslem community.<\/p>\n
In a recent interview with The Jakarta Post, Ahmadi Rafei,
\nchairman of the group's Java I branch, said he did not see any
\nreason why Ashaari should be barred from entering Indonesia given
\nthat he has never aggravated the Indonesian government.<\/p>\n
Ahmadi also said that Al Arqam's activities in Indonesia are
\nopen for all to see. \"The government knows exactly what we're
\ndoing here, whether we undermine national stability or not ...
\nAnd if it happens (the banning), I will let Allah Himself judge
\nus since the truth comes from Allah.\"<\/p>\n
Polygamy<\/p>\n
Many ulemas noted that some of the religious practices of Al
\nArqam followers are in violation of Islamic principles, including
\ntheir belief that they can communicate with Allah through
\nAshaari.<\/p>\n
They also questioned Al Arqam's policy of encouraging polygamy
\namong its men followers.<\/p>\n
One Moslem leader however came in defense of the group, not
\nits belief or practices, but its right to exist.<\/p>\n
Nurcholish Madjid said no one, not even the government, had
\nthe right to prevent others from embracing a belief.<\/p>\n
\"It's impossible,\" he said, stressing that if the government
\nwas concerned about the impact of Al Arqam's teachings, then it
\nshould deal with the matter properly and not ban the organization
\noutright.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Deputy Attorney General for Intelligence affairs
\nHadi Baroto announced on Saturday that the government has banned
\none of the most widely read books by Al Arqam followers.<\/p>\n
The Aurat Muhammadiyah, written by Ashaari and published by Al
\nArqam's head office in Malaysia, is the source of the sect's
\nteachings and principles. (05\/par)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-studying-demands-to-ban-moslem-sect-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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