Mosques are not campaign arenas

Mosques are not campaign arenas

From Merdeka

The dawn of the reform era, brought about by former president
Soeharto's resignation from office, has enabled the establishment
of new political parties. Many Moslem political figures have also
enthusiastically established their own parties.

As a Moslem, I hope that as more and more Islam-based parties
are set up, democratization will gain improve in Indonesia,
especially if the leaders of these parties can act maturely and
wisely and can also apply Islamic policies in accordance with the
teaching of the Koran and the Prophet's Sunnah.

Unfortunately, what has happened is the reverse. Many in
Islamic congregations have complained because a preacher in a
Friday sermon tried to promote the political party he belongs to
by means of disparaging leaders of other political parties
(including those based on Islam).

As a member of a Moslem congregation, I call on all Islamic
teachers, Moslem leaders and Moslem scholars not to use mosques
as campaign arenas for political parties, especially if such
campaigns are conducted by disparaging other Islamic parties or
other Moslem figures.

If these cheap campaigns continue to be conducted, unity among
fellow Moslems will never be achieved and Moslems themselves will
be split. It is highly unlikely that in one mosque members of the
congregation would be supporters of one political party only.

I'm convinced that the congregation in one mosque may comprise
supporters of various political parties such as the Crescent Star
Party, the People's Awakening Party, the Indonesian Moslem Party,
the Justice Party, Megawati-led Indonesian Democratic Party, the
National Mandate Party, the Functional Group (Golkar), New
Masyumi, etc.

Therefore, leaders of political parties must brief their
members to act and behave in an Islamic manner. There are signs
that members of a mosque congregation are now divided.

DARDIRI DAHLAN

Bekasi, West Java