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)