Conversion cause of concern among MUI branches

Conversion cause of concern among MUI branches

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Regional offices of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) are
calling for strong measures to prevent Muslims from converting to
other religions.

Reports presented to a plenary meeting by delegates to the MUI
congress on Wednesday reflected general concerns over the issue
of conversion.

"The percentage of Muslims in Jakarta has declined from 90
percent to 87 percent," the Jakarta delegation said in its
report. "This is because of the large influx of migrants from
non-Muslim areas."

The Jambi delegation said in its report that Christian
preachers had penetrated the province and were converting Muslims
at an alarming rate.

"The phenomenon of the construction of churches in the
province is most disturbing," said the report.

While Christianity is legal in the predominantly Muslim
country, proselytizing is not, although such cases rarely make it
to trial. Three women are facing trial in the West Java town of
Indramayu on charges they sought to convert Muslim children to
Christianity two years ago, following a complaint by the MUI.

Meanwhile, the Banten delegation provided a glowing report on
how they had managed to strengthen the faith of Muslims there and
prevented the construction of several churches.

"We are proud to report that there is not one single church in
Cilegon to this day," the report said. "And this is how we intend
to keep it."

Cilegon is a regency of Banten where state company PT Krakatau
Steel operates.

In its report, the Bangka-Belitung delegation lamented the
election of a non-Muslim as regent.

"We don't understand how a non-Muslim won the election, since
Muslims account for 90 percent of the regency's population," said
the report. "We will make sure it won't happen next time."

The Bangka-Belitung delegation, like the other MUI provincial
offices, blamed the lack of funds for its inability to prevent
some Muslims from adopting other religions.

"More funds are needed so that our preachers can penetrate
remote areas," the Bangka-Belitung delegation said. "Under a non-
Muslim regent, we expect it will be even tougher for us to
preach."

Over 380 MUI executives and provincial representatives from
across the country are attending the five-yearly congress in
Jakarta, which will wind up on Saturday.

The council will begin on Thursday its debate on several draft
edicts, including those against deviant and liberal Islamic
thought.

The mullahs will also discuss moral issues, particularly the
rampant corruption in the country, drug abuse and indecency.

Another draft edict has also been proposed to support
controversial Presidential Regulation No. 36/2005 on land use for
public interests. (002)