Permadi denies denigrating Prophet Muhammad<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Soothsayer Permadi, who has become the target of
\na Moslem backlash, denied yesterday the accusation that he once
\nsuggested that Prophet Muhammad was a dictator.<\/p>\n
More people condemned the controversial soothsayer yesterday,
\nwith one even likening him to Salman Rushdie, the Indian-born
\nBritish author who was condemned by Moslems worldwide for
\nblasphemy against Islam through his book Satanic Verses.<\/p>\n
According to a TV news report, a group of young Moslems staged
\na demonstration outside Permadi's home in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Last week Permadi was summoned to the Attorney General's
\nOffice for a series of investigations after the Central Java
\nMilitary commander said that some of his prophecies, suggesting
\npolitical turbulence in Indonesia this year, were disconcerting
\nand could have destabilizing effects.<\/p>\n
The controversy surrounding Permadi took a new twist after Din
\nSyamsudin, a scholar and leading member of the ruling political
\ngroup, said on Friday he discovered that Permadi once made the
\nremark that Prophet Muhammad was a dictator, who failed to
\nestablish a just and prosperous society.<\/p>\n
Following this disclosure, the influential Indonesian Ulema
\nCouncil (MUI) quickly issued a statement on Friday accusing
\nPermadi of blasphemy against the entire Moslem community around
\nthe world.<\/p>\n
The statement, signed by MUI chairman Hasan Basri, urged the
\ngovernment to prosecute the soothsayer.<\/p>\n
The United Development Party (PPP), an infusion of Moslem
\nforces, joined in the chorus yesterday calling for punitive
\naction against Permadi.<\/p>\n
\"Permadi, who calls himself a leading paranormal, and his
\nremarks, is a duplication of Salman Rushdie and his Satanic
\nVerses,\" PPP Chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum said.<\/p>\n
\"His remarks are antagonizing and are creating unrest among
\nMoslems. But the Moslem community must not be instigated by his
\narrogance,\" Ismail Hasan said during a post-Idul Fitri gathering
\nat the party's headquarters. \"His remarks are clearly
\nunconstitutional and could be categorized as subversive. He
\nshould be brought to trial immediately. Don't let him poison the
\nIndonesian people.\"<\/p>\n
Permadi, a residence of Jakarta, was in Yogyakarta yesterday.<\/p>\n
When contacted, via his cellular phone, he immediately denied
\nthe accusations leveled against him.<\/p>\n
\"All I said was that Prophet Muhammad had immense power and
\ninfluence as a leader of the people, the religion and a country.
\nThen I said that dictatorship was acceptable if it is used to
\npromote the welfare of the people,\" Permadi told The Jakarta
\nPost. \"If you cut parts of the statement here and there, then
\nyou'd come up with that,\" he said referring to the allegations
\nmade by Din Syamsudin.<\/p>\n
\"My speech was manipulated,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Permadi said he made that statement during a seminar at the
\nGadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, that was also attended by
\nprominent figures such as Muhammadiyah chairman Amin Rais and
\nformer home minister Rudini as well as students of Yogyakarta's
\nIslamic Institute. \"If I had made that remark (as Din suggested),
\nsurely they would've protested then.\"<\/p>\n
Din, chief of Golkar's Research and Development Agency, said
\nhe had the recording of the seminar and of an interview Permadi
\ngave to a Yogyakarta radio.<\/p>\n
The former chairman of the Muhammadiyah Youth Organization
\nsaid Permadi's statement was not a normal prediction but a
\nprovocative political statement.<\/p>\n
Din said Permadi should retract his statement and apologize to
\nthe Moslem community. (29)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/permadi-denies-denigrating-prophet-muhammad-1447893297",
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