Moslem groups are united on Arqam ban
Moslem groups are united on Arqam ban
JAKARTA (JP): All the major Moslem organizations in Indonesia
are united in their wish to see the Malaysia-based Al Arqam
movement banned from the country, Minister of Religious Affairs
Tarmizi Taher announced yesterday.
"They all agreed to the ban. The Moslem community need not get
confused over this matter," Tarmizi said following the
presentation of meritorious service awards at the State Palace
yesterday.
Tarmizi said that leaders of the Indonesian Ulema Council
(MUI) in Jakarta and the region all want to see the Darul Arqam,
as the organization is known here, outlawed, but will let the
government decide on the precise reason for the ban.
The council is an umbrella group for all Moslem organizations
in Indonesia.
He conceded that there were disagreements as to why Al Arqam
should be outlawed.
Some groups suggested that the movement's teachings have
deviated from Islamic principles. Others who see nothing
particularly wrong with the teachings agreed to the ban because
Al Arqam is causing political instability, he said.
The Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia's largest Moslem
organization, made an about face on Saturday over the question of
whether Al Arqam should be outlawed. On Friday, it publicly
announced its opposition to banning the movement, at least on
religious grounds. On Saturday, it decided to join the call for
the ban.
Outlaw
The MUI has been at the forefront in calling for the ban since
Malaysia, where the movement had originated, outlawed the group
early this month. Arqam's spiritual leader Anshaari Mohammad,
currently in exile in Jordan, has vowed to challenge the
leadership of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad.
The Attorney General's office is expected to make its ruling
this month, and the MUI's view is expected to weigh heavily on
its decision. The government has already declared Anshaari
persona non grata on Indonesian soil and banned three of the
Arqam's books.
Arqam leaders in Indonesia have made a last ditch attempt to
prevent a government ban by offering to hold dialogs with all the
parties concerned. MUI turned down the offer while NU accepted
and held a meeting last Friday. The group is believed to have
thousands of followers throughout Indonesia, mostly among the
educated elite.
Tarmizi said his ministry has been monitoring the activities
of Al Arqam in Indonesia for the last six years.
"The presence of Al Arqam is already causing public disorder
in many regions. It has even reached West Nusa Tenggara," he
said. (emb)