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