Scholars oppose attempts to link Islam with terror

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Noted religious leaders and scholars expressed their objections to increasing attempts at home and overseas to equate Islam with terror following the attack on the JW Marriott Hotel, which was allegedly committed by persons linked to regional terrorist network Jamaah Islamiyah (JI).

The objections were raised by Nadhlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Hasyim Muzadi, Muhammadiyah senior executive Watik Pratikna, and scholars Azyumardi Azra and Komaruddin Hidayat.

"We reject the tendency that the action (terror) is connected with Islam. It is an effort to destroy Islam," Hasyim said at a seminar on the stance of Indonesian Muslims against terrorism, held at the Jakarta Media Center.

"This terrorist attack is our problem as a nation, not as Muslims," he said.

Hasyim called on all parties at home to join hands and seek the best solution to prevent terrorist attacks from happening, instead of laying the blame on one party.

"Just arrest those who are guilty and let the court punish them," he said.

He also said religious fundamentalist organizations existed not only in Islam, but also in other world religions.

For example, fundamentalist organizations that embrace Christianity also existed in Ireland and South Sudan, but not a single country equated them with Christianity, he said.

Watik, Komaruddin and Azyumardi agreed with Hasyim.

Watik warned people not to exploit the Marriott bombing for their own interests.

"Let's behave proportionally in resolving the Marriott bombing case," he said.

At least 12 people were killed and 147 injured on Aug. 5 when an alleged suicide bomb exploded in front of the JW Marriott Hotel in Mega Kuningan, South Jakarta.

Komaruddin requested the foreign media to avoid speaking of Islam in Indonesia or Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) in the same breath as terrorists.

He said equating Islam with terrorists, including using "Muslim terrorist" in news stories, had become a habit in a number of foreign media.

"The terrorist attack has nothing to do with pesantren and Islam here. JI has never even had a legal basis in Indonesia," he said.

JI was immediately accused of being behind the attack, as the method was similar to that in the Bali bombings of Oct. 12, 2002.

A number of Bali bombing suspects are allegedly members of JI and have been arrested by police. Those suspects claimed their actions were necessary to fight against "infidels".

Last week, key suspect Amrozi, dubbed "the smiling bomber", was sentenced to death.

Alleged JI leader Abu Bakar Ba'asyir is also on trial for treason and for trying to assassinate President Megawati Soekarnoputri when she was vice president.

Ba'asyir is also chairman of the Indonesian Mujahidin Council (MMI).