RI Muslims ignore call for jihad<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Muslim communities in Indonesia are playing down
\na call for a jihad by Taliban rulers in Afghanistan against the
\nUnited States should the U.S. attack Middle East countries.<\/p>\n
\"I think we must be careful. We must not show emotional ties
\n(to the Taliban) as it could have a broad impact,\" said A. Syafii
\nMaarif, chairman of the Muhammadiyah, the second largest Muslim
\norganization in the country.<\/p>\n
The comment was made in response to Afghanistan's Taliban
\nleaders, who called on Muslims to launch a holy war if the U.S.
\nand its allies attacked them.<\/p>\n
Reuters reported on Monday that Afghanistan's Taliban rulers
\nhad deployed a force of between 20,000 and 25,000 fighters just
\nacross the border from the Khyber Pass into Pakistan.<\/p>\n
Syafii said Muslims in Indonesia should practice moderate
\nIslam which is mainstream here, not the radical form. \"Because
\nthe problem is not clear yet,\" he said.<\/p>\n
On one hand the U.S. government remains adamant that Saudi-
\nborn dissident Osama bin Laden was behind Tuesday's suicide
\nattacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in
\nWashington D.C.<\/p>\n
\"On other hand, bin Laden has strongly denied the accusation.
\nBut he hailed the attack,\" he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Syafii said everybody should first realize precisely what the
\nreal situation was.<\/p>\n
Lasykar Jihad spokesman Hilal Thalib, meanwhile, said that his
\nforce had no connection with the Taliban in Afghanistan. \"We are
\nin Indonesia. We have a responsibility to defend Muslims here,\"
\nhe told the Post.<\/p>\n
Thalib said the accusation by U.S. that Osama bin Laden was
\nbehind the attacks was political motivated. \"There is no
\nclarification on that matter.\"<\/p>\n
He said the Lasykar Jihad was set up mainly to further develop
\nIslam in Indonesia. (08)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-muslims-ignore-call-for-jihad-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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