Religious leaders condemn rising religious fanaticism in society

Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

How much violence in this country is committed in the name of religion?

Take Muslim scholar Jalaluddin Rahmat, for instance, whose belief leans toward the Syiah Islamic school of thought, like the majority of people in Iran. Jalaluddin wants nothing more than to follow the Syiah teachings, which are perceived as too liberal by conservative Muslims. Instead, he has been intimidated and threatened, and the Islamic boarding schools he owns in several regions have been burned or attacked.

"In a recent seminar at (Jakarta's) Istiqlal mosque, there was even a suggestion to ask the Attorney General's Office to ban Syiah teachings," Jalaluddin said in a seminar on religious radicalization on Thursday.

A number of acts of intimidation and aggression against religious groups or individuals by "other devotees", or even the state itself have been recorded in the country.

The most recent cases were the detention of priest Mangapin Sibuea of the Doomsday Sect, Muslim cleric Yusman Roy, who was condemned for performing prayers in Bahasa Indonesia, as well as the July 9 attack against Muslim group Jemaah Ahmadiyah Indonesia (JAI) by Muslim hard-liners.

Worried by the perceived rise of religious fanaticism in the country, religious leaders and scholars gathered on Thursday to condemn such aggressive acts.

"This is not the first time the JAI has been attacked. The government should be held responsible -- it did nothing to prevent or stop the attack," said Muslim scholar Ulil Abshar Abdalla of the Liberal Islam Network (JIL).

Ulil was himself condemned in 2003 by Muslim group Forum Ukhuwah Umat Islam (FUUI), which issued a fatwa (edict) to kill Ulil, as the latter published an article criticizing the conservatism of some Muslim leaders in the country.

The scholars and leaders urged the government to protect the people's right to freely follow their religion.

Djohan Effendi of the Indonesian Conference on Religion and Peace (ICRP) said religious discourse had suffered a huge setback since the early 20th century.

"Debates on religion were respectful in nature. Communist leader D.N. Aidit even befriended mullah. And prominent Muslim scholar like Agus Salim said that even atheists must be protected by the law," he said.

Protestant Priest Wienata Sairin has asked state institutions like the ministry of religious affairs to reevaluate their roles.

They should come up with new paradigms instead of advocating uncompromising courses of action, Sairin said.

Meanwhile, Muslim scholar Dawam Rahardjo condemned the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), for issuing an edict that attacked certain religious groups.

"The MUI must be held responsible because it issued an edict saying the blood of the Ahmadiyah congregation is halal," he said and thus attacking them would be permissible under Islamic law.

Moreover, the scholars and leaders asked the state to accept religions other than the five recognized by the state under the Constitution.

"There are so many religions and religious beliefs. The government must reposition itself in terms of religion. It claims to be only a facilitator, but it often interferes with religious practices," Sairin said.

Victims of religious fanaticism
1. Bantaqiah, Aceh (1997)
2. Children of God (1984)
3. Ahmadiyah Indonesia Congregation (JAI) (2002; 2003; July 9, 2005)
4. Dewa pop band (April 2005)
5. Hare Krisna (1971)
6. Islam Jamaah (1971)
7. Inkar Sunah (Sept. 30, 1983)
8. Jehovah Witnesses
9. Liberal Islam Network (JIL) (April 2005)
10. Konghucu
11. Islamic Dakwah Indonesia Institution (LDII) (2002)
12. Pondok Nabi (Doomsday Sect) (2004)
13. Aliran Kepercayaan (1983, 1997)
14. Musyarofah (June 4, 2005)
15. Nichiren Sosyu Indonesia (NSI)
16. Salamullah
17. Sadar Mapan
18. SARAS (March 2004)
19. Teguh Esha
20. Ulil Abshar Abdalla (Jan. 2003)
21. Yusman Roy (May 2005)

Source: Indonesian Conference on Religion and Peace