{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1548011,
        "msgid": "preachers-urged-not-to-incite-violence-1447893297",
        "date": "1997-04-16 00:00:00",
        "title": "Preachers urged not to incite violence",
        "author": null,
        "source": "JP",
        "tags": null,
        "topic": null,
        "summary": "Preachers urged not to incite violence JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Religious Affairs Tamizi Taher called on religious leaders yesterday to refrain from delivering inflammatory sermons that may incite violence. \"Ulemas and preachers should not inflame their congregation's emotion, especially in the run-up to next month's election,\" he said after meeting with President Soeharto at Bina Graha.",
        "content": "<p>Preachers urged not to incite violence<\/p>\n<p>JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Religious Affairs Tamizi Taher<br>\ncalled on religious leaders yesterday to refrain from delivering<br>\ninflammatory sermons that may incite violence.<\/p>\n<p>\"Ulemas and preachers should not inflame their congregation's<br>\nemotion, especially in the run-up to next month's election,\" he<br>\nsaid after meeting with President Soeharto at Bina Graha.<\/p>\n<p>Tarmizi warned that if violence reigns in the election, it<br>\nwould amount to self-destruction for Indonesia, which has been<br>\npainstakingly founded.<\/p>\n<p>Officials of the United Development Party (PPP) have accused<br>\nMoslem preachers of provoking riots in the Central Java town of<br>\nMagelang from March 24 to March 26.<\/p>\n<p>Police in the Central Java capital of Semarang have been<br>\nquestioning Afifuddin Musytari, who runs The Holy Alfurqon<br>\nIslamic boarding school, on suspicion of provoking people to run<br>\nriot in Pekalongan with his inflammatory speech.<\/p>\n<p>The popular preacher was accused of insulting Golkar and<br>\ntelling fellow preachers that they may end up in hell if they<br>\nsupport the dominant party.<\/p>\n<p>Hundreds of Moslems protested Afifuddin's questioning at the<br>\nCentral Java police command headquarters Saturday, demanding that<br>\nhe be cleared from all charges.<\/p>\n<p>\"Preachers and ulemas should be wise when they touch on<br>\npolitical matters,\" Tarmizi said.<\/p>\n<p>He said it was not easy to build a multi-ethnic and<br>\nmulticultural nation like Indonesia.<\/p>\n<p>\"Let's use religion to create peace and prosperity for the<br>\npeople,\" he said. \"If we abuse religion to stir up violence...<br>\nyou know when it begins but never know when it ends.\"<\/p>\n<p>Attorney General Singgih said the public should not be easily<br>\nprovoked by irresponsible people wanting to create chaos.<\/p>\n<p>\"The political tension is heated and it is only normal in the<br>\nlead-up to a general election. But everyone should be careful not<br>\nto worsen the situation,\" he told reporters. (pan\/05)<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/preachers-urged-not-to-incite-violence-1447893297",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}