Muslims split over ban on 'radical' books

Muslims split over ban on 'radical' books

Eva C. Komandjaja and Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta/Semarang

An attempt by the Ministry of Religious Affairs to ban Islamic
books thought to foment radicalism has been opposed by a large
Muslim organization that fears the move could prove
counterproductive.

The ministry has requested that the Attorney General's Office
ban all books that pose a danger to the country by teaching and
spreading Islamic extremism.

But Din Syamsuddin, the chairman of the country's second
largest Muslim organization, Muhammadiyah, said such a ban would
only encourage curious people to seek out the books.

Ministry secretary-general Faisal Ismail said his office was
currently evaluating a number of books to determine whether they
promoted radicalism and the use of violence in the name of jihad.

Faisal referred specifically to books written by Imam Samudra
and Amrozi, who were convicted over the first Bali bombings. The
two books have sold well and are reportedly into their third
printings.

Bali was the target of another terrorist attack on Oct. 1,
when three suicide bombers killed 20 people in three crowded
restaurants. The investigation into the attack led police to top
terror suspect Azahari bin Husin, who was killed in a police raid
in Batu, Malang, on Nov. 9.

Faisal said the ministry was particularly concerned by books
that taught a violent form of jihad, which he said was a danger
to the nation.

"If we do not pull these books from the shelves, people who
read them could be swayed by these false teachings on jihad.
These books also quote Koranic verses to justify violence,"
Faisal said during a visit to Semarang.

Din agreed the books were dangerous, but suggested that
instead of issuing bans the government encourage the publication
of books to counter false teachings on jihad.

"I do wonder how books that contain teachings justifying acts
of terrorism are able to circulate. But if they are banned now it
will just make people curious and encourage them to read the
books. It would be better to publish books that explain the true
teachings of Islam," Din told The Jakarta Post on Friday, before
leaving later in the day for Tripoli to attend an international
conference of Islamic figures.

Din is part of an antiterror team recently formed by the
Ministry of Religious Affairs. The team, comprising ulema and
leaders of the country's largest Muslim group, Nahdlatul Ulama,
and the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), will work to counter
extremist teachings.

Din, who is also the deputy chairman of the MUI, said he had
read several of the books being evaluated by the religious
affairs ministry and found their arguments in favor of violent
jihad deceptive and tenuous.

"It is clear that suicide bombings are against Islam. The
religion forbids murder, let alone mass murder. Those books are
poisoning the minds of people who do not really understand
Islam," he said.

The deputy head of the Intelligence Division at the Attorney
General's Office, Mochtar Arifin, said his office was still
evaluating a number of books.

The Attorney General's Office is the only institution
authorized to ban publications and teachings deemed a threat to
the state.