NU wants death sentences for convicted corrupt officials
NU wants death sentences for convicted corrupt officials
Muhammad Nafik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Corruption, bribery, money politics and state debt were among the
nation's most crucial problems that were rigorously discussed
during Nahdlatul Ulama's (NU) national conference, which closed
on Sunday.
The nation's largest Muslim organization recommended that
convicted corrupt officials be given the death sentence in an
effort to fight against such acts that took their toll on many
people's lives by causing great poverty and misery.
Corruption is not specifically mentioned in Islamic sharia
law, but NU ulemas said it could be categorized as serious
treason against people or simply theft, both of which are haram
or prohibited under sharia.
Corruption can even be categorized as a "war against God and
humanity," they added.
"That's why corruptors must be given a very heavy sentence,"
said M. Subadar, a senior cleric who chaired an NU commission
dealing with corruption and other crucial problems during the
three-day conference.
The ulemas said a move by corrupt officials to pay back their
ill-gotten money to the state should not reduce the sentence, as
they had still violated God's law and must be punished. By
returning money to the people, they would merely be redressing
the imperfect laws of humankind, but even that should still be
necessary.
They added that Muslims were not allowed not to pray for
corruptors who died before paying back their dirty money, the
clerics added.
Corruption has become an epidemic disease in the predominantly
Muslim country of some 210 million people. Indonesia consistently
ranks as one of the world's most corrupt countries. Nevertheless,
very few corruptors have been sent to prison.
Money politics and "gifts" for state officials or others are
also haram because such acts could change or influence a decision
made fairly and objectively, the Muslim clerics said.
They said that money politics, or vote buying, was essentially
a bribe, and that those who paid, received or facilitated a bribe
were all condemned by Islam.
Similarly, Islamic law also prohibits fees often received or
charged by officials in the normal course of their duties. "Such
fees must be returned back to the state or companies where they
work," Subadar said.
The 40 million member NU also recommended that the government
find ways to recoup corrupted foreign money.
The government must use proper legal means to take back the
money from filthy rich state officials and their cronies, and use
that to pay back the country's foreign debt.
NU clerics added that the country may not use state funds,
which are allocated to improve people's welfare, and therefore
belong to the people, to pay back foreign loans, most of which
were siphoned off by state officials.
Any state officials who has abused foreign loans must be held
accountable for the mounting foreign debt.
NU clerics also highlighted recent cases of absenteeism that
often take place in state agencies and legislative bodies with
truant officials and legislators continuing to receive full
salaries.
Masdar Farid Mas'udi, a member of NU's syuriah (law-making
body), said a deliberate absenteeism without a "proper reason" is
not justifiable under Islamic law as it was a breach of people's
mandate and discipline.