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.