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