Masyumi rejects Megawati?<\/p>\n
From Rakyat Merdeka<\/p>\n
This newspaper carried in its June 2, 2001 issue, a news
\nreport titled Masyumi rejects Megawati as president. The report
\nsaid that according to Abdullah Hehamahua, who spoke in his
\ncapacity as the general chairman of Masyumi (modernist Islamic)
\nParty, Islam could not accept a woman as president.<\/p>\n
This gender issue that Mr. Hehamahua touched upon is outdated
\nbecause today Indonesians of various religious persuasions --
\nIslam, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism -- no longer raise gender
\nas an issue.<\/p>\n
It is true that Muslims form the majority of the Indonesian
\npopulation but that does not necessarily mean that this state
\nbelongs absolutely to Muslims. Indonesians professing other
\nreligions also own this state.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is not an Islamic state but the Unitary Republic of
\nIndonesia and is led by a president. Anybody, regardless of their
\nsex, can be elected president as the only requirement is that
\nhe\/she is capable of leading this country and acceptable to all
\nthe ethnic groups across the archipelago.<\/p>\n
As Islamic law does not prevail in Indonesia, it is no use
\nconnecting the gender issue with the Koran and Sunnah (Islamic
\nlaw based on the teachings and practices of the Prophet
\nMuhammad).<\/p>\n
H. ENGKOS KUSNADI<\/p>\n
Sukabumi, West Java<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/masyumi-rejects-megawati-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }