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.