ASEAN to fight militant ideas

ASEAN to fight militant ideas

Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post/Bandung

Top religious affairs officials from four ASEAN member states
agreed on Wednesday to intensify efforts to steer young Muslims
away from extremist versions of Islam.

During a joint media conference at the end of a three-day
informal meeting in Bandung, delegates from Indonesia, Malaysia,
Singapore and Brunei said the terrorist attacks carried out by
militant youths in Indonesia demonstrated the importance of
spreading moderate Islamic teachings among the young.

"We must learning from the recruitment of young people by
terrorist networks. We call on all member countries (of ASEAN) to
protect young people from false Islamic teachings and extremism,"
the secretary-general of Indonesia's Ministry of Religious
Affairs, Faisal Ismail, said.

Four major terror attacks in Indonesia since 2002 involved
suicide bombers in their 20s.

"We have agreed on several items that require follow-up
action, including the development of multicultural education, the
empowerment of the people, women's protection and providing
guidance for youth," Faisal said.

The delegates also agreed to publish books and papers on the
true teachings of Islam, particularly regarding jihad.

"Jihad in the modern era should be about improving the lives
of people, not killing others," Faisal said.

The delegates said they would push for the publication of
books on "progressive" Islam that would provide young people with
a true understanding of jihad.

These recommendations will be conveyed to the ASEAN
ministerial meeting on religious affairs to be hosted by Malaysia
next year.

Only Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei will officially
be involved in the annual meeting, but Faisal said other ASEAN
member states and Timor Leste would be encouraged to attend next
year's event.

Leading the Malaysian delegation at the meeting in Bandung was
Dato Mustafa bin Abdul Rahman. Singapore's delegation was led by
Haji Mohamad Alami Musa and Brunei's by Dato Paduka Awang Haji
Abdul Rahman bin Haji Mohiddi.