JIL, hard-liners sidestep confrontation

JIL, hard-liners sidestep confrontation

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

After seven long hours, the members of the Islamic Liberal
Network (JIL) felt relieved, at least for the day.

And so did some 300 people gathered outside the Utan Kayu
Community complex to express their support for JIL following
rumors of a planned attack by hard-liners after Friday prayers.

Late in the afternoon, a man slipped through the crowd and
came to the cafeteria at the back of the complex in East Jakarta
to hold talks with four members of the progressive Muslim forum.

The man, who later claimed to be a mediator from a group
calling itself the Defenders of Islam Army, confirmed that the
attack would not take place as JIL had opened the door for a
dialogue that might settle the differences between the two over
JIL's objections to recently issued edicts of the Indonesian
Ulema Council (MUI).

"We are always open to discussions with anyone on any matter,"
said Hamid Basyaib, a leader of JIL, to the mediator.

Earlier in the day, conservative Muslim groups the LPI and FPI
said they planned to stage a protest in front of Radio 68H at the
Utan Kayu complex over on-air statements that they felt had
insulted them and the MUI.

"How they see the edicts is different to what is stated in
sharia," said an LPI/FPI representative, who identified himself
to JIL leaders as Bambang Sugiono.

In a recent radio talk show, JIL co-founder Ulil Abshar Abdala
had labeled the edicts "foolish". He publicly apologized for his
statement, but defended his right to criticize the edicts.

Ulil pointed to several edicts that he felt were baseless,
such as those banning pluralism and joint prayers, and especially
the one declaring the Ahmadiyah sect to be a heretical movement,
and its followers to be murtad (apostates).

"The Ahmadis have suffered from various physical and emotional
pressures, such as intimidation, threats and the destruction of
their mosques, while they are in fact a part of Islam," Ulil
argued.

He said that the MUI should be reformed to better reflect
Islam in Indonesia.

"The MUI itself has to reflect the variety of Islamic
communities that are united in Islam despite the differences and
diversity between Islamic sects," he said.

The crowd gathered at the complex housing the JIL, Radio 68H
and cultural journal Kalam urged the government to protect the
freedom of religious expression.

They also urged Muslim communities to be open to differences
and pluralism.

Noted activists like Syafi'i Anwar from the International
Center for Islam and Pluralism (ICIP) and recent Magsaysay award-
winner Teten Masduki attended to express their support for
religious freedom. (003)