RI Moslems face critical period: Observer
RI Moslems face critical period: Observer
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Moslems are currently in a position
to build a strong Islamic society, as they are enjoying improved
relations with the power holders, a foreign observer says.
M.H. Faruqi, chief editor of the London-based journal Impact
International and an observer of Indonesian affairs, said Moslems
here are currently enjoying a number of advantages, including an
increasingly significant role in society.
"This situation should be responded to well," Faruqi said on
Wednesday.
Moslems should strive to prevent potential disturbances, he
said. Experience has shown that when Moslems engage in hostile
relations with the power holders, a third party takes advantage of
the situation by siding with the power holders.
Conditions have improved greatly, he said, but Moslems should
remain vigilant about possible conflicts.
He warned that, with the 1997 general elections approaching,
Indonesia is headed toward a critical time. The world, he added,
will continue to scrutinize Indonesia.
"Changes have to be managed in as orderly and transparent a
manner as possible," he said.
Faruqi praised Indonesia as a peaceful, tolerant country
which enables various social groups to thrive in their diversity.
He reminded Indonesian Moslems to also think about their
brethren in other parts of the globe, including Bosnia-
Herzegovina.
He also called on Indonesian Moslems to recognize that there
is now a larger, more significant, psychological war being waged
against Islam throughout the world.
Faruqi is here at the invitation of Minister of Religious
Affairs Tarmizi Taher to attend the ongoing Istiqlal Festival of
Islamic Arts and Culture.
He was speaking to the press about Moslems' development in
Europe. He was accompanied by Moslem leader Lukman Harun and
festival organizer Pontjo Sutowo.
Faruqi said Moslems, including those in Indonesia, should try
to understand and learn from the unique situation of their
brothers and sisters in Western Europe. There are currently about
15 million Moslems spread across the United Kingdom, Germany, and
France.
He placed Moslems in Europe into three categories: those who
are new converts to Islam; native Moslems, such as the people of
Bosnia Herzegovina; and Moslem immigrants.
Many Moslems, especially the immigrants, are in disadvantaged
positions, he said. However, the situation was understandable,
added, given the fact that most of them hailed from countries
which had been colonized at one time or another.
"What's unique about them is that, while most Moslems see
hijra (migration) as leaving a non-Islamic community to one which
is, European Moslems moved from Islamic communities to those
which are not," he said.
He said many Moslems migrated from Islamic countries, such as
Algiers, Tunisia or Morocco, to non-Islamic France. Indonesian
Moslems, too, once moved in large numbers to Netherlands, while
Angolan and Mozambique Moslems migrated to Portugal.
In addition, many Turkish Moslems left their country to live
in Germany, while Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi Moslems have
migrated to England. "Those people from the once-colonized
countries migrated to countries which once colonized them," he
said.
Faruqi described the various difficulties that Moslems
encounter in European countries. He added, however, that the
enmity against Islam which many of them experience comes only
from a handful of people with power.
A greater number of people can accept Moslems, he said. (swe)