Gus Dur slams police over Roy case

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Malang police continued to receive strong criticism on Monday over their decision to detain an Islamic school leader in East Java, for leading daily prayers in both Arabic and Indonesian, a practice claimed to "despoil an organized religion."

Former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, also an influential figure in the largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), said police were being unreasonable in trespassing into the religious domain which was not within their authority.

"What right do they think they have to interpret religious jurisprudence? Have they even learnt Islamic law?" Gus Dur told reporters in Semarang on Monday, as quoted by Antara.

The case should have been discussed wisely, he added, especially as reciting prayers in non Arabic languages remained a matter of debate.

Regardless of their proficiency in Arabic, Muslims worldwide use the language when performing shalat prayers in which verses from the Koran are ritually recited. Local languages are used in personal prayers or faith reading.

Muhammad Yusman Roy, leader of the Islamic boarding school Pondok I'tikaf Jama'ah Ngaji Lelaku, has been giving Indonesian translations between Arabic verses in prayers, so that most of the worshipers who do not speak Arabic would be able to understand what they were hearing.

Gus Dur said that using local languages in prayers remains controversial as some clerics permit it while others object to it. Yet there has never been a thorough debate on the subject.

An expert on Islamic jurisprudence, or fiqh, Gus Dur also blasted the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) as reckless for issuing an edict early last week prohibiting prayer recitals in languages other than Arabic.

"Before prohibiting it, MUI should have discussed the issue completely," he asserted.

Meanwhile, Malang police were undeterred by the criticism over the detention of Yusman, and have not changed Yusman's status as a suspect for violating Article 156 (a) of the Criminal Code on despoiling an organized religion. The crime carries a maximum punishment of five years in jail.

"While we're still investigating the case, Yusman will stay in detention. We have also deployed police officers to secure the Islamic boarding school to anticipate protests from residents," said Malang Police Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Djamaludin on Monday.

Malang Military Commander Lt. Col. Besar Harta Karyawan said that he had warned Yusman about his practice a year ago, at the same time that the Malang branch of MUI issued an edict saying that Yusman's teachings were misleading.

Backed by local clerics, Malang regent Sujud Pribadi then issued a decree ordering Yusman's practice to be stopped, which led to the police decision to detain Yusman.

A former boxer who converted from Christianity in 1975, Yusman apologized for the matter, but said he would continue saying the prayers in two languages, although he would only do this with his family.