MUI tells 'Newsweek' to withhold latest issue

MUI tells 'Newsweek' to withhold latest issue

Leo Wahyudi S, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI) asked the publisher of
Newsweek magazine on Tuesday not to circulate copies of its Feb.
11, 2002 edition in Indonesia due to an article that included
images of the Prophet Muhammad.

Fearing public uproar, the council also demanded that the
publisher of the U.S.-based weekly apologize to Muslims worldwide
for having insulted Islam.

"We would ask Newsweek to publish a formal apology in the
magazine in the near future," MUI deputy chairman Umar Shihab
said after an executive meeting that was called to discuss the
issue.

Islam bans any images of the Prophet, including paintings,
drawings, illustrations, personifications or interpretations.

Umar said that content wise, the article could mislead readers
into perceiving Islam as a religion that condoned violence,
although he did not consider it as aimed at discrediting Islam.

"We realize that the article may lead people to a
misunderstanding (of Islam). It would be better for the article
to appear in an academic journal or be presented at a closed
forum where people could discuss it," Umar said.

The council, he added, was aware of the possibility of an
excessive reaction from Muslims if copies of the article reached
readers.

"We will try to remind them that a third party could take
advantage of such a religious issue to disrupt national unity,"
he said.

There was no immediate response from Newsweek to the MUI
statements.

The authorities in Bangladesh have confiscated all copies of
the issue, while in Egypt it has drawn protests from Sunni
Muslims.

Newsweek's agent here withheld all copies of the magazine last
week after consulting the MUI. The weekly's circulation here is
estimated at 10,000.

In its Society and Art column, Newsweek ran an analysis
written by Kenneth L. Woodward. Entitled "Searching the Holy
Books for Roots of Conflict and Seeds of Reconciliation", the
piece seeks to find an answer to conflicts between Muslims and
believers in the West by comparing the Bible and the Koran.

The article came on the heels of the war against terrorism
waged by the U.S. and its allies following the Sept. 11, 2001
attacks blamed on Saudi-born Osama bin Laden and his Afghanistan-
based Al-Qaeda network.

The Woodward article depicts three images of Muhammad, which
were respectively taken from an undated Turkish manuscript, a
1583 Turkish text, and a Turkish illumination of 1594-95.

The pictures portray the Prophet hearing the revelation of the
Word of God, ascending to the throne of God and being saluted
upon winning the battle of Badr.

Umar said discussing the article at an academic forum would
prevent anyone with a lack of knowledge about Islam from
misinterpreting the contents.

"It's easy for those who have studied comparative religions to
understand the article. But, what would happen if readers who
have mastered English but lack the necessary knowledge see the
pictures?" he asked.

Umar said the MUI would not hold a media conference to
announce the results of its examination.

"We think it (the media conference) is unnecessary, because it
would only spark anger," Umar said.

Muslims make up 90 percent of Indonesia's 210 million
population.

The Indonesian government revoked the license of the Monitor
weekly tabloid in 1990 for defaming Islam.