MMI to pursue fight for 'syariah' adoption

Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

Several Muslim groups vowed on Wednesday to continue their fight for the incorporation of Islamic law syariah into the Constitution, but admitted that they face a daunting challenge, mainly due to the lack of acceptance of the law among Muslims in the country.

A top leader of the Indonesian Mujahidin Council (MMI), Fuad Amsyari, said the Muslim community would need more real examples to comprehend and accept syariah, during a press conference which marked the closing of a two-day seminar here.

"The Muslim community, and even some of its prominent figures, misunderstand syariah," Fuad Amsyari, who is also the secretary- general of MMI's law making body, said.

Also addressing the media were MMI's top leader Amirul Mujahidin Abu Bakar Baasyir, and chief executive Irfan S. Awwas.

Fuad also said that participants in the seminar left the definition of an Indonesian Islamic state untouched.

"We did not discuss whether this (forum) would become an embryo of an Islamic state, an Islamic Republic of Indonesia, or other names," he said.

Fuad Amsyari added that the participants had agreed that incorporation of syariah into the Constitution should be conducted in a manner in which basic principles of Islam are introduced into the running of the state.

He was referring to a proposal in a 56-page booklet handed out at the beginning of the seminar. The book contains the proposed articles to amend the existing constitution.

An ad hoc committee composed of representatives of the groups has been set up to revise the proposed amendment. The committee was given three months to finish its job.

"Once finished," said Fuad, the proposed changes will be distributed to "related parties, including parliaments, political parties, and Muslim organizations."

The seminar had approved the constitutional amendment prepared by MMI and Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia, but some wordings needed changing.

Twenty people representing ten organizations attended the seminar.

The participating groups included MMI, Muhammadiyah, the Crescent Star Party (PBB); Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia; Hidayatullah; Islamic Defender Front (FPI); the Association of Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals (ICMI); Al-Irsyad, Provisional Committee for the Implementation of Syariah Islam (KPPSI); and the Big Family Indonesian Islamic Party (KBPII).