Indonesian Mujahiddin holds first congress in Yogyakarta

Indonesian Mujahiddin holds first congress in Yogyakarta

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Some 5,000 Muslims converged on the Kridosono
Sports Stadium here on Saturday to attend the first Indonesian
Mujahiddin Congress, with calls for Syariah Islam (Islamic Law)
to be applied in the country.

The participants, including women and children, from various
parts of the country, first enjoyed the congress' opening
ceremony, followed by the first day's speakers.

The congress' organizing committee chairman, Irfan S. Awwas,
told The Jakarta Post that the congress' main agenda was to
discuss the application of Syariah Islam in Indonesia, and the
world in general.

Addressing the gathering, Irfan said that people have their
individual rights to practice their religion. "There is no reason
for the government to prohibit Muslims from applying and
upholding Syariah Islam."

A senior kyai (elder) from Madura island, Alawy Muhammad, said
in his opening speech that such a congress was worth supporting.
"I, personally, support this congress, which is aimed at the
union of Muslims. Muslims must unit. Through this congress we are
seeking imamah leaders and khalifah (religious leaders) to lead
us (Muslims) who are now separated one from each other," he said,
citing a Koranic verse which states that it is imperative that
Muslims (on earth) have a leader.

He also warned the country's Muslims not to make the same
mistakes as the Turkish Mustafa Kamal Attaturk did, which turned
Turkey into a secular country.

Another speaker, Ahmad Syahirul Alim, from Yogyakarta,
stressed that the 1945 Constitution guarantees the people's
freedom to practice their own religion.

"Applying Syariah Islam is part of ibadah (practicing Islamic
teaching). Therefore, the state is obliged to protect Muslims
practicing Syariah Islam," said the noted Muslim scholar.

Asep Mausul Affandi of Tasik Malaya, West Java, shared his
opinion, urging Muslims to fight for the reapplication of the
Jakarta Chapter. The Jakarta Chapter was an historic document
formulated on June 22, 1945, containing the old version of
Pancasila that explicitly requires Muslims to apply and practice
Syariah Islam.

The Pancasila version now taken as the state ideology is
mentioned in the preamble of the 1945 Constitution.

According to the organizing committee, the congress, which
will cost Rp 652 million, has nothing to do with the People's
Consultative Assembly Annual Session or other political issues.

Organizing committee member Purnama said Yogyakarta's Sultan
Hamengkubuwono X was also invited. But he was not seen among the
participants.

Ayip Syafruddin Soeratman, chairman of Ahlu Sunnah wal Jamaah,
a militant organization known as Laskar Jihad, said he was
invited to the Mujahiddin congress, but said he was sorry for
failing to attend. "But we fully support the congress."

Among the prominent participants are Jakarta-based Muslim
scholar Deliar Noor, Rusli Biki from Jakarta and Moedrick Sangidu
from Surakarta.

The first day ended with many of the participants joining a
procession of motorbikes driving around the city. The congress is
scheduled to end on Aug. 7.(swa/sur)