MUI forbids suicide bombing

The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) will not permit Muslims to commit suicide bombing for any reason whatsoever until there is a clear religious edict issued by local ulema.

The council's edict commission chief Ma'ruf Amin said in Jakarta on Wednesday that the situation had not compelled ulema to address suicide bombing as there were still other alternatives available to fight for the interests of Muslims in the country.

"Suicide bombing in Indonesia is not allowed because the ulema have not yet issued an edict that states there are no other options open (other than suicide bombing)," Ma'ruf told Antara.

Suicide bombing has suddenly become an issue here following the revelation by police that the bombing in Paddy's Cafe in Bali might have been conducted by a suicide bomber.

Ma'ruf noted that if the bombing was really conducted by a suicide bomber, it would only create more problems for Muslims in the country.

Muslims in Indonesia, he said, were not in such a difficult situation like their brothers in Palestine, and therefore, they should pursue other means of jihad to fight for Muslim' interests.

Moreover, jihad must be ruled under a clear edict, and thus Muslims cannot do whatever they like in the name of jihad. "That's counterproductive." -- JP