Scholars oppose attempts to link Islam with terror
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).