Jihad unnecessary in Iraq war : RI leaders
Jihad unnecessary in Iraq war : RI leaders
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post,
Jakarta/Yogyakarta
The government and religious leaders said on Monday jihad in Iraq
could be performed in many ways other than sending volunteers to
fight against the United States and its allies.
Religious affairs minister Said Agiel Munawar suggested that
people express their solidarity for Iraq in an appropriate
manner.
"The government has no right to ban people from performing
jihad, but it must be done in the right context," Said Agiel told
reporters after joining Nahdlatul Ulama Youth (IPPNU) in a
meeting with Vice President Hamzah Haz.
Said Agiel was commenting on certain Muslim groups, including
the Justice Party and Islam Defenders Front (FPI), who opened
registration for volunteers to conduct a humanitarian mission or
to fight alongside Iraqi troops against the U.S. and its allies.
He said those who wished to go to Iraq would face serious
problems, particularly because they had no knowledge of the
battlefield or adequate equipment to help Iraqi troops.
"There are many ways to perform jihad because even big
countries have failed to prevent the U.S. and its allies' act of
aggression," Said Agil said referring to fellow members in the
United Nations Security Council, France, Russia and China.
Speaking during his visit to Yogyakarta, defense minister
Matori Abdul Djalil shared his colleague's views.
"Our religion (Islam) teaches us that upon witnessing a
violation, we are only obliged to prevent it or fight against it
if we have the power. But, if we don't have the power, then we
are obliged to fight it with words," said Matori, who like Said
Agiel is a member of the country's largest Muslim group Nahdlatul
Ulama.
Matori suggested that jihad in Iraq be called off due to the
volunteers' lack of preparedness and experience.
"It's a pity (to send inexperienced volunteers to Iraq)," he
said on the sidelines of his visit to the Yogyakarta-based Air
Force Academy (AAU).
Separately, chairman of the country's second largest Muslim
organization Muhammadiyah, Ahmad Syafii Maarif, said performing
jihad in Iraq would not be effective means to stop the war.
"We don't need to do that. Let's just pray and hope that the
U.S. will quickly stop its invasion," Syafii said.
Both Syafii and Said Agiel insisted that the war in Iraq was
not related to religion.
NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi joined the criticism against the
call for a holy war in Iraq, saying Indonesian volunteers sent to
the battleground would add to Iraq's burdens.
He said Indonesians would not stand a chance in fighting in
Iraq.
"The conditions are very different, Indonesians there would
only burden the Iraqis, so it is better not to go," he said.