Muhammadiyah, NU against jihad call

Riyadi Suparno The Jakarta Post Yogyakarta

The two largest Muslim organizations in the country, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, have said they do not agree with any plan to send Muslims to Afghanistan should the U.S. attack it.

Hasyim Muzhadi, the chairman of the NU, said in Jakarta on Friday that the organization would not arrange the recruitment of its members as volunteers for a jihad in Afghanistan.

"A jihad, or holy war, doesn't always mean a battle. Efforts to develop religion are also called a jihad," Hasyim said at a news conference organized by the Indonesian Conference on Religion and Peace (ICRP) in Jakarta.

He said the terrorist attacks in U.S. were a tragedy of humanity, not a tragedy of religion. "Therefore, every society in the world must not transform the terrorist attacks into a conflict of religions," he said.

In a separate interview in Yogyakarta, Muhammadiyah chairman Syafi'i Ma'arif said Muhammadiyah would not get involved in such a radical move. "We should let the situation cool."

Syafi'i also strongly criticized the recent statements about a jihad from the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI).

Din Syamsudin, the secretary-general of the top Islamic authority, said in a news conference on Tuesday in Jakarta that MUI was against the terrorist attacks on the U.S., but at the same time, called on all Muslims in the world for a jihad fii sabilillah (fight in the path of Allah) if the U.S. attacked Afghanistan.

Syafi'i said that MUI's call for a jihad could be misunderstood (by Muslims). "People have their own way of interpreting that word. I think it would only raise people's emotions and provoke radicalism," he said. "I don't think it's wise to use jihad in that way."

Speaking to journalists at the Gadjah Mada University complex on Friday, Syafi'i said the recent situation was disturbing foreign citizens staying in Indonesia.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Minister of Religious Affairs Said Aqil Al Munawar also criticized MUI over the jihad call.

"The British, American and Canadian ambassadors have come to me to discuss how to deal with the current situation," he said.

Meanwhile, the enlistment of Muslim volunteers to go to Afghanistan has started in many parts of the country.

In Jakarta, a jihad recruitment center is being organized by the Indonesian Muslim Youth Movement (GPII).

At least 1,800 volunteers, including women, from Jakarta, West Java and Central Java, have registered since enrollment began early this week at the GPII office at Jl. Kramat Raya 58, Central Jakarta.

"They are all ready to go to Afghanistan for a jihad," Hendriansyah, the coordinator of the recruitment center, said.

All applicants are required to fill out forms and be ready to join a training program and go to Afghanistan at any time.

"While waiting (to leave for Afghanistan), volunteers will learn the latest developments in the situation, and they can join the training program, which will include combat training and the use of firearms.

"We have experienced instructors who were sent to Bosnia," Hendriansyah said, referring to the war in the Balkan Peninsula between the Bosnia-Herzegovina Muslims and Serbs from 1992 to 1994.

A show of Muslim solidarity was also demonstrated in 1994 when many Muslim youths established a volunteer organization called the Brigade of Indonesian Muslim Volunteers, whose members were prepared to fight in the Bosnian war.

In the South Sulawesi capital of Makassar, hundreds of Muslims gathered at the Grand Mosque to attend the opening of a jihad post command.

Noer Bahri Noor, an ulema, told the gathering that support for the Taliban needed concrete action. "Let's take up arms for a jihad against the U.S. Those enrolling to become volunteers will go (to Afghanistan) together with members of Lasykar Jundullah," he said, referring to a radical group based in the city.

In a related development, Madurese Ulema Forum chairman Syaiful Rukama said in Surabaya that he had distributed 10,000 application forms for volunteers for Afghanistan. He said there was a good response from Madiun, Surabaya, Malang and Jember.

Both Hendriansyah and Syaiful said that the funds for sending the volunteers would come from Muslim donors.

The coordinator for the Pamekasan (Madura) branch of the Defenders of Islam (FPI), Munif Syauti, said that he had deployed ten scouts to list U.S. interests in the province. He would not elaborate any further.