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)