Govt still mulling possible ban of the Al Arqam sect
JAKARTA (JP): The government has deferred its decision on whether or not to ban Darul Arqam, an Islamic sect with headquarters in Malaysia, as the Moslem community now appeared to be divided on the issue.
Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher yesterday said that a decision is expected in August.
The decision was originally expected yesterday as the issue was discussed at a meeting involving staff of the Attorney General's office, the Armed Forces and the influential Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), which has been calling for a nationwide ban against Darul Arqam.
The MUI said Darul Arqam, or more popularly known as Al Arqam in Malaysia, says the movement's teachings have deviated from Islamic principles and therefore should be banned.
On the eve of yesterday's meeting, however, Moslem leaders including Nurcholish Madjid, Emha Ainun Najib, Jalaludin Rachmat, and Abdurrahman Wahid, spoke against the ban, or at least to treat the issue with more caution.
Abdurrahman, chairman of Nahdhatul Ulama (NU), said his organization has not decided on where it stands on the Al Arqam issue. "I don't yet know the path of thareqat (Sufism) it follows, which is said to be wrong. What I know is that its main teachings are just the same as with other Moslem groups'," he was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying.
Nurcholis, Emha and Jalaludin defended Al Arqam's right to exist here, saying the government had no right to prevent others from embracing a belief.
Commenting on the critics, Tarmizi said yesterday the government has its own reasons to consider the denomination as a possible threat to harmonious religious life among Moslems here.
"Well, that's the way scholars think. But we are bureaucrats, and we think differently. That's the difference," Tarmizi told The Jakarta Post yesterday.
He said such scholars usually assume that people could accept things as they do. On the other hand, the government considers them as those who need protection from any deviant sects, including Al Arqam. "It's the government's responsibility."
Concerning the denomination's exclusive dressing, Tarmizi said he had no objection at all. "It's their right. Even those in Middle East wear the same dressing. Nothing special, go ahead."
Al Arqam's female followers are exclusive for their cloaks and veils which cover all parts of their bodies but eyes. Male followers wear robes and turbans which are typical for the denomination.
Political
The minister said what matters for the government is actually about its political moves, here or in neighboring countries.
The sect's founding leader Ashaari Muhammad, currently living in exile in Thailand, has turned his economic-oriented denomination into a political movement as he allegedly built training camps for his followers. He even once declared that he would be the next Malaysian prime minister, substituting Mahathir Mohamad.
Tarmizi noted that the Indonesian government does not want any of its territories to be used by the group leader as his stepping stone to reach his goals as his organization had been banned in Malaysia since 1991.
He pointed out that the motives behind Ashaari's move of putting the pictures of President Soeharto and a number of cabinet ministers in his book President Soeharto Ikut Jadual Allah is strongly political.
"It's politically motivated. And I've said to them, don't play politics here as we have enjoyed brotherhood among Moslems in Southeast Asia. Please, don't disturb it," he said.
He rejected the assumption that what Indonesia has done towards Al Arqam is its reward to Malaysia for its soft stance on the East Timor issue, saying that Indonesia is truly independent in handling the matter. (pet/11)