Radicalism, a reaction to West's failures

Bali was again rocked by a terrorist attack on Oct. 1. Twenty-three people were killed and 134 others injured. Blame is being directed at radical Islamic groups. Nur Syam, professor of religious sociology at the Sunan Ampel State Institute for Islamic Studies (IAIN), Surabaya, discussed the issue with The Jakarta Post's ID Nugroho last week.

Question: How should we view radical Islamic movements?

Answer: We should understand that radicalism or fundamentalism is not only practiced by Muslims. There are radical and fundamentalist elements among Christians, Hindus, Judaists and Buddhists too. Radicalism and fundamentalism are a result of coercion imposed by one group against another.

What about radical Islamic movements themselves?

Basically, Islamic radicalism and fundamentalism constitute a social construction of religious perception set up by certain groups. Such groups consider what they practice as in accordance with what is required by Islam. This understanding positions some social realities like modernization, secularization and everything coming from the west as a deviation.

Does this understanding prompt radical Muslims to commit terrorist acts?

Who has constructed radical Muslims as perpetrators of terrorist actions in various parts of the world? Before dealing with this, we should analyze why radicalism arises.

First, radicalism exists because of political oppression by those in power. Remember how the New Order crushed the Islamic Jihad Command movement in the 1980s, and arrested many Islamic figures.

Second, secular regimes fail in formulating social policies throughout the world, which increases criminality. Amid the disenchantment, the idea of Islam as an alternative arises. Islam is seen as capable of strictly carrying out amar ma'ruf nahi munkar (practicing what is right and rejecting what is wrong). And finally it is a response to whatever is brought by the "western world". Everything brought by the west is regarded as undermining Islamic values. There emerges the desire to return to the concept of life fashioned by Islam known as al-salaf al- salih.

So the three factors have led to radical Islamic movements and eventually terrorist actions?

Not quite so. The resistance to western hegemony has induced the birth of the western view that Islam reserves a fundamental force that may at any time shock the world and disrupt the world order arranged by the west. This stereotype that equates fundamentalism with violence is perpetuated by the west. It was more pronounced when attacks on the WTC, New York, the underground in London and other acts of terrorism occurred.

Then is it right to equate radical Islam with terrorism?

Not exactly. The terms radical and fundamentalist as often linked with terrorism have appeared following President George Bush's declaration of a war on terror. In fact, the terrorist actions launched by those claiming to defend "Islam" should be examined on a case by case basis. As we observe, the cause of such actions is the presence of a disparity where there are no means of "confrontation" due to the lack of power. So, a "force" ensues and manifests itself as a concrete movement. The appearance of religious groups with such a connotation of "violence" is basically a social response to politically loaded western policies.

And the aspect of humanity is just ignored?

Speaking of humanity, one should also take account of the loss of life and non-physical losses inflicted by western nations' violence on Muslims in different regions. Cases of Muslims in Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries serve as historical evidence of western cruelty disguised in the defense of human rights. There is a simple reason in the logic of the oppressed that committing the same violence is something they have to do amid the uncertainties of life. That's why the Palestinians had such unusual courage in fighting against well armed Israeli troops with slingshots or suicide bombs.

Won't it tarnish Islam as a religion of deliverance?

The terrorist actions committed by a group while uttering Allahuakbar (God is Great) has other implications, one of which is the assumption that Islam is related to terrorism. In fact, terrorist acts are separate from religion. The two will never meet because their ultimate goals are different. The aim of deliverance must continue to apply methods and paths of salvation. If terror is not the path of deliverance, it is definitely not related to religion.

In Indonesia, terrorist attacks have repeatedly occurred. What is your comment on this?

In Indonesia, the religious mainstream is represented by moderate Islam through Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Muhammadiyah, Nahdlatul Waton, Jam'iyah Washliyah and others. Those in the radical category have a small membership concentrated in the cities. Most of them comprise of youths in the process of a quest for religious insight. In this process they discover traditions with "hard" and exclusive religious outlooks, which force them to practice religious acts that are opposed to deliverance and peace.