Clerics report intellectual to police

Clerics report intellectual to police

JAKARTA: A group of clerics on Wednesday formally asked police to investigate a prominent Islamic intellectual for writing an article urging a reinterpretation of sharia.

The Forum of Indonesian Clerics and Islam Adherents said the article by Ulil Abshar-Abdalla violated the law by inciting hatred toward Muslims.

The column, titled: Renewing the understanding of Islam, appeared in the Nov. 18 edition of Kompas daily newspaper. It argues that some aspects of sharia, are no longer relevant and need reinterpretation.

Ulil heads the Islamic Liberal Network, which runs a website and hosts regular discussions on radio shows. The group has often irritated hard-line religious organizations in the world's most populous Muslim nation.

"Let's go to court," he told AP "See how the trial process goes then we will know who is right and who is wrong," he said.

Police were not immediately available for comment on the complaint.

Under Indonesian law, people found guilty of insulting or inciting hatred toward another religion face a maximum of five- years imprisonment.

Athian Ali M. Dai, the head of the clerics' forum, said Abshar-Abdalla's article had "spread hatred and hostility against other Muslims with different views." --AP