Govt studying demands to ban Moslem sect
Govt studying demands to ban Moslem sect
JAKARTA (JP): The government says it is studying the demands
made by a number of Moslem organizations to ban the activities of
the Darul Arqam, a flourishing Moslem sect with headquarters in
Malaysia.
Attorney General Singgih said on Saturday that the fate of
Darul Arqam will be determined at a coordination meeting
scheduled for tomorrow involving his office, the Ministry of
Religious Affairs, the Armed Forces and the Indonesian Moslem
Council (MUI).
The MUI, the influential umbrella organization of a number of
Moslem groups, has issued a recommendation that the government
ban the sect nationwide. The sect has already been banned in West
Sumatra and Aceh but it is flourishing in other parts of Sumatra
and Java, particularly among educated youths.
Singgih, responding to the calls for a nationwide ban, said
there were a number of procedures which the government would have
to take before moving to ban any particular organization.
Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher has also supported
the call to ban Darul Arqam, more popularly known in Malaysia as
the Al Arqam.
Al Arqam founding leader Ashaari Muhammad, currently living in
exile in Thailand, recently announced his intention to return to
Malaysia and to challenge the national leadership, promising he
will lead the country one day.
His announcement sent ripples as far as Indonesia, where he
has thousands of followers and the government has been keeping a
close watch on their activities.
Minister Tarmizi has already announced that Ashaari is barred
from entering Indonesia for political reasons.
Al Arqam's followers in Indonesia, while revering their leader
Ashaari, say that the organization in Indonesia is apolitical,
focusing more on promoting the welfare of the Moslem community.
In a recent interview with The Jakarta Post, Ahmadi Rafei,
chairman of the group's Java I branch, said he did not see any
reason why Ashaari should be barred from entering Indonesia given
that he has never aggravated the Indonesian government.
Ahmadi also said that Al Arqam's activities in Indonesia are
open for all to see. "The government knows exactly what we're
doing here, whether we undermine national stability or not ...
And if it happens (the banning), I will let Allah Himself judge
us since the truth comes from Allah."
Polygamy
Many ulemas noted that some of the religious practices of Al
Arqam followers are in violation of Islamic principles, including
their belief that they can communicate with Allah through
Ashaari.
They also questioned Al Arqam's policy of encouraging polygamy
among its men followers.
One Moslem leader however came in defense of the group, not
its belief or practices, but its right to exist.
Nurcholish Madjid said no one, not even the government, had
the right to prevent others from embracing a belief.
"It's impossible," he said, stressing that if the government
was concerned about the impact of Al Arqam's teachings, then it
should deal with the matter properly and not ban the organization
outright.
Meanwhile, Deputy Attorney General for Intelligence affairs
Hadi Baroto announced on Saturday that the government has banned
one of the most widely read books by Al Arqam followers.
The Aurat Muhammadiyah, written by Ashaari and published by Al
Arqam's head office in Malaysia, is the source of the sect's
teachings and principles. (05/par)