Show Islam peace-loving: Mega<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Adianto Simamora, The Jakarta Post,
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri urged Muslim leaders to show the
\npeaceful, moderate side of Islam in a bid to end the perception
\nthat Islam and violence are one and the same.<\/p>\n
In her speech marking the opening of the International
\nConference of Islamic Scholars here on Monday, Megawati
\nemphasized the need for Muslims to work together to fend off the
\nstigma and formulate a movement to bring the peaceful nature of
\nIslam into reality.<\/p>\n
The perception of violence in Islam should no longer be
\nprolonged as Indonesians need to show that it is peaceful, she
\nsaid. She added that the challenge for the Muslim scholars is to
\nprove that it was a fallacy to believe that different religions
\ncould not co-exist.<\/p>\n
"Islamic scholars need to formulate and develop socio-
\nreligious conceptions that are more open and tolerant," the
\nPresident added.<\/p>\n
The country's largest Muslim-based organization, Nahdlatul
\nUlama (NU) is organizing the conference to promote moderate Islam
\nin the wake of the war against terrorism.<\/p>\n
After the devastating Sept. 11, 2001 attack, perpetrated by
\nthe militant Islamic group al-Qaeda, and ensuing acts of terror
\nacross the world attributed to hardline Muslims, Islam has been
\nstigmatized.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, the largest Muslim-majority country in the world,
\nfell victim to terror attacks at the hands of homegrown zealots
\nin the Bali blasts in October 2002 and the JW Marriot Hotel
\nbombing in Jakarta in August 2003.<\/p>\n
The President emphasized that any act of violence, regardless
\nof one's conviction that they could be justified by religious
\nbeliefs, would not be tolerated.<\/p>\n
She boasted that Indonesia had shown unquestionable vigilance
\nto eliminate acts of terror.<\/p>\n
"This nation repudiates and legally prosecutes those
\nperpetrating violence against others, despite (the perpetrators
\ndefense that they were justified by jihad)," the President said.<\/p>\n
NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi said the conference was aimed at
\nreinstating Islam as a way of life and not part of global
\nconflicts.<\/p>\n
He added that Muslims should empower themselves, so there
\ncould be no more reason to justify any moves to oppress Islam for
\nthe sake of peace.<\/p>\n
"Once we can show the world what true Muslims are, then there
\nwill be no more justification for those who attack us because of
\na religion or hatred," Hasyim said.<\/p>\n
He went on to state that the conference should provide the
\nworld with an understanding that Islam was a blessing for the
\nuniverse, and promised that Indonesian Muslim leaders would work
\nwith leaders from other countries to promote a common perception
\nof moderate Islam.<\/p>\n
"We hope the conference can improve the image of Islam and
\ncontribute to world peace," Hasyim reiterated.<\/p>\n
The conference hosed around 300 delegates from over 40
\ncountries for the three-day meeting, and they will deal with
\nseveral issues, including education and the mass media.<\/p>\n
At the end of the conference they are expected to issue a
\ndeclaration of peace and a series of action plans to promote and
\nempower moderate Muslims.<\/p>\n
In another part of her speech, Megawati reiterated Indonesia's
\nstance against injustices that Muslims are facing when dealing
\nwith developed countries.<\/p>\n
The United States' occupation of Iraq and the ban against
\nMuslim headscarves in France are two examples of unjust treatment
\nof Muslims, Megawati claimed.<\/p>\n
"Whether they realize it or not, those discriminative acts are
\ntest cases on whether those big countries are serious in
\npracticing the human rights that they have preached to the whole
\nworld," Megawati asserted.<\/p>\n
Interview -- Page 2<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/show-islam-peace-loving-mega-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }