To MUI, NU: Who are the terrorists?

To MUI, NU: Who are the terrorists?

This message is addressed to the public relations departments
of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and Nahdlatul Ulama (NU),
and to anyone else who seem desperate to convince people to
believe Muslims wouldn't commit terrorism.

While the rest of the world is mourning the bombings that took
place in Bali, the MUI and the NU are running around telling
people not to think that the bombers are Muslims. "If the bombers
were Muslims, then they should stop claiming to Muslims because
they have damaged the image of the religion".

So only people who make Islam look good can call themselves
Muslims? Nice to see how accepting the NU is of its "brothers"
during hard times. Does this mean that the nine drug smugglers
about to go on trial in Bali are not Australian? Because drugs
are not condoned under Australian law just the same as violence
is not condoned under Islamic law.

Unfortunately, the nine idiots in Bali are Australians. We
shamefully accept them as our citizens. We accept responsibility.
So when will Muslims accept responsibly, for they are our own
people. Why must they expend so much effort protecting the image
of Islam rather than working to eradicate hatred within Islam?

Sadly, the MUI and the NU condemn violence by Muslims when
it's bad for their public image. Maybe you should start
condemning violence by Muslims around the world by Palestinians,
southern Russians, Kosovo Yugolavs, Morrocans, Sudanese,
Nigerians, Lybians, Syrians, Iraqi insurgents, Kashmirs and the
Afghan Taliban. Are these people Muslims? Before you justify
these people's actions, just look at the question. Are they
Muslims? I'm not saying -- are their actions unjustified (only
god can decide that).

IAIN SHEARER, Jakarta