Ulemas urged to promote tolerance<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid called on the
\nIndonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) on Saturday to champion the
\nspirit of tolerance and promote respect for pluralism.<\/p>\n
Citing the Koran and examples set by Prophet Muhammad, the
\nPresident said Islam deeply respected differences of religion,
\nethnics and views.<\/p>\n
He also called on the leaders of other religions to promote
\nharmony and mutual respect among different worshipers.<\/p>\n
\"The essence of religion is to allow different religions,
\ndifferent ethnics, different territory and institutions,\"
\nAbdurrahman, himself a Muslim scholar, said in his speech closing
\nthe MUI's congress at the State Palace.<\/p>\n
The President simultaneously opened a workshop on Human
\nImmunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency
\nSyndrome (AIDS) for ulemas from the Association of Southeast
\nAsian Nations (ASEAN).<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman also told MUI leaders not to repeat the council's
\npast mistake of allowing it to become a defender of the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
MUI must be an independent institution, courageous enough to
\ngive honest assessments and if necessary, to criticize the
\ngovernment for the sake of the people, he said.<\/p>\n
\"MUI needs not be afraid. It must be open-minded and brave to
\nmake its own decisions,\" said Abdurrahman, who led Indonesia's
\nIslamic organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), for 15 years until
\nhis election to the presidency in October.<\/p>\n
Prior to becoming President, Abdurrahman repeatedly slammed
\nMUI leaders for becoming the instruments of the authoritarian
\nregime of former president Soeharto.<\/p>\n
His stance damaged his ties with MUI acting chairman Ali
\nYafie, a highly respected ulema from NU. Ali quit the council not
\nlong after Abdurrahman's election as President.<\/p>\n
\"MUI must not hesitate to hold a view different from the
\ngovernment. It's just natural,\" Abdurrahman remarked.<\/p>\n
MUI's congress has elected Sahal Mahfudz as its new chairman
\nfor the next five years.<\/p>\n
Sahal, a close relative of the President, currently also
\nserves as the chairman of Syuriah, NU's legislative body.<\/p>\n
\"Although he is a relative of mine, it won't affect my
\ncommitment to uphold the truth,\" Sahal said after the ceremony.
\n(prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ulemas-urged-to-promote-tolerance-1447893297",
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