Moslem leaders visit Permadi, express support
Moslem leaders visit Permadi, express support
JAKARTA (JP): Two of Indonesia's most influential Moslem
leaders visited detained soothsayer Permadi Satrio Wiwoho
yesterday in an unusual show of defense for the mystic facing
blasphemy charges.
Yusuf Hasyim and A.M. Fatwa unexpectedly appeared at the
national police headquarters at 4:10 p.m. to console the psychic,
who is also facing government lawsuits for his political
prophesies.
Permadi, who has been in detention since March 19, has been
charged by the police for having insulted Islam when he allegedly
described Prophet Muhammad as a "dictator" in a seminar last
year.
Hasyim, more popularly known as Pak Ud, is one of the few
Moslem leaders who swim against the current in the Permadi case.
He maintains that there is nothing blasphemous about Permadi's
statement.
He said he has read the transcript of Permadi's remarks and
concluded that they are in fact a "compliment" to Muhammad, not
an insult in the way many Moslems have interpreted.
He met with Permadi to obtain an explanation of what Permadi
actually meant when he commented on the leadership qualities of
Prophet Muhammad.
Hasyim, who runs an Islamic boarding school with thousands of
students in the East Java town of Jombang, said his talk with
Permadi only confirmed the soothsayer's attempt to "praise" the
prophet in his own way.
"No single statement in the transcript indicates that Permadi
insulted Prophet Muhammad," he said.
He also agreed with Permadi that the statements in question
appeared during the question-and-answer session when the mystic
was simply responding to a participant's question.
Permadi's remarks in a closed seminar at Gajah Mada University
have plunged him into hot water with various Moslem groups.
Numerous Moslem groups under Golkar have taken to the streets
to condemn Permadi and are demanding that he be brought to court.
Leaders of the ruling Golkar party have also threatened to
file a law suit against him for allegedly likening the political
organization with the outlawed Indonesian Communist Party (PKI)
on a separate occasion.
Permadi is also in trouble for his remarks which suggested
that the Ministry of Religious Affairs has embezzled enormous
amounts money from would-be haj pilgrims.
Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher will also file a
lawsuit against Permadi for his accusation.
Hasyim said that he asked Permadi to "remain patient" and
steadfast and that he would give him the books on Islam that the
mystic requested.
He also called on Moslems to remain calm and uphold the
principle of presumption of innocence in the Permadi affair.(imn)