America's exaggerated interest in radical groups may backfire
America's exaggerated interest in radical groups may backfire
Leo Wahyudi S, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The United States and its allies should tread carefully in
their recriminations of radical religious groups here, since
over-emphasizing their potential threat may create unwarranted
sympathy for these groups, a leading Islamic scholar warned.
Azyumardi Azra said such these diminutive groups would gain
recognition if they were continually slammed by major powers.
The goal of constraining these groups would only backfire in a
seeming battle of David versus Goliath, and alienate moderate
Muslims who may perceive it as a battle against Islam.
"U.S. overreaction may ferment discomfort among moderate
Muslims," Azyumardi, who is rector of the State Academy of
Islamic Studies (IAIN) Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, said in his
presentation at a seminar on the perception of Islam in Indonesia
in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack.
While he did not accuse local groups like the Islamic
Defenders Front (FPI), Lashkar Jihad, Hizb al-Tahrir and
Indonesian Mujahidin Council (MMI) of being involved in terrorist
activity, he did however, in his paper identify them as those who
have come "to the forefront in a more visible, vocal and militant
manner" since Sept. 11.
While these groups "exert only a limited influence", they
would try to make use of any possible issue related to Islam and
Muslims for their own purposes."
Since the United States launched their war on terrorism the
existence of radical groups has become a point of focus in the
search for possible terrorist networks in the region.
Singapore, for example, has charged that MMI leader Abu Bakar
Ba'asyir is a ring leader of a terrorist network in Southeast
Asia.
There have been media reports also that Washington is also
looking more closely at radical elements in Indonesia.
Indonesia, however, has maintained that there is little
factual evidence of this despite their apparent militant stance.
Foreign envoys have also urged the moderate Muslim majority
here to be more vocal to counter perceptions of Indonesia as a
haven for Islamic extremism.
In Wednesday's discussion, held jointly by IAIN Syarif
Hidayatullah and the Canadian Embassy, it was pointed out that
the two major grassroots Muslim organizations -- Muhammadiyah and
Nahdlatul Ulama -- which claim to encompass over 70 million
members are still regarded as very moderate.
Azyumardi believes that the best weapon to combat radical
elements is to strengthen and empower democratic elements within
the Muslim mainstream.
He also urged moderate Muslim organizations to take a stronger
stance to counter public misperception.
After the discussions, Azyumardi told The Jakarta Post that it
was also crucial to ensure that the legal system worked properly
in handling such threats.
"The government together with moderate Muslim groups must make
sure that the law works."