Respect for Islam<\/p>\n
By all accounts, President Megawati Soekarnoputri's
\ndenunciation of the injustice against Muslims in the world is the
\nstrongest criticism of the West from the Indonesian president to
\ndate. Without pointing a finger at any country in particular, the
\npresident, in her opening address on Monday at the International
\nConference of Islamic Scholars in Jakarta, nevertheless left
\nlittle doubt about the countries she had in mind.<\/p>\n
\"Whether intentionally or not,\" the President said, \"gross
\ninjustice is evident in the attitude and actions of (several) big
\ncountries against countries whose societies adhere to Islam.\"<\/p>\n
This injustice, she said, was evident in the unilateral
\nactions taken by a number of countries against Iraq. On a smaller
\nscale, the same injustice was being done by outlawing head
\nscarves in \"a certain\" European country.<\/p>\n
\"Whether or not they are aware of it, such discriminatory
\nmeasures test the sincerity of those big countries in observing
\nhuman rights, which they have strived to accomplish since the
\n20th century,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Of course, compared to the vituperative comments from the
\nformer Malaysian prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, Megawati's
\ncriticism of the double-standard \"certain countries\" apply to the
\nMuslim world is mild indeed.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the opening of an Organization of the Islamic
\nConference (OIC) meeting in October in Putra Jaya, Malaysia, for
\nexample, Mahathir said -- among other things -- that \"the Jews
\ncontrol the world\" and used others to wage war on their behalf.
\n\"Europeans killed six out of 12 million Jews, but now the Jews
\ncontrol the world by proxy. Others are fighting and dying for
\nthem,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, said Mahathir, \"it is impossible that there is no
\nother way (than violence). Muslims, who number 1.3 billion
\npeople, cannot be defeated by Jews, who number only a few million
\npeople.\"<\/p>\n
In response to the fierce reactions that arose in the West to
\nhis \"anti-Semitic remarks\", Mahathir said his remarks were taken
\nout of context and refused to retract them. His speech, he said,
\nwas merely meant to awaken Muslims to their plight and to spur
\nthem on to work harder in order to overcome it. On another
\noccasion, the articulate and outspoken prime minister said the
\nMuslim world should be strong enough to instill fear in the
\nhearts of \"the enemy\" -- the only way to earn respect.<\/p>\n
Whatever the differences between Megawati and Mahathir,
\nMegawati's response to the West's hostile reaction to Mahathir
\ndeserve noting.<\/p>\n
Megawati called upon the OIC to improve its communication with
\nthose outside its own sphere to generate a better understanding
\nof Islam in the non-Muslim world. \"At present,\" said Megawati at
\nthe time, \"it seems that Islam is seen as identical to terrorism.
\nIn actuality ... the heart of Islamic teachings is imbued with
\ntolerance, compassion and moderation.\"<\/p>\n
It seems fair to conclude, then, that the differences that
\nexist between the two leaders' aims for Islam are not as
\nsubstantial as they may appear at first. In fact, they may be
\nnonexistent, as both seek global respect for Islam and its
\nfollowers.<\/p>\n
Whereas Megawati mainly placed stress on achieving global
\nunderstanding for the moderate, peace-loving and inclusive nature
\nof Islam, however, the more pragmatic, more outspoken Mahathir
\nseems to believe that Muslims should not overlook building
\nstrength through progress in order to improve the lot of the
\nummah, or Muslim community, and at the same time, gain fair
\ntreatment and respect from the non-Muslim world.<\/p>\n
It goes without saying that realizing prosperity, fairness and
\njustice in an admittedly unfair world is much easier said than
\ndone. In the end, it is the methods by which the Muslim world try
\nand achieve their aims that will determine the non-Muslim world's
\nperception of Islam.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/respect-for-islam-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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