'We want to promote' dialog on Islam in the West

Delegates from over 40 countries have confirmed their involvement in the four-day conference of Muslim scholars and leaders organized by Indonesia's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) in Jakarta beginning on Tuesday. The Jakarta Post's Tiarma Siboro and Kanis Dursin interviewed NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi over the weekend about his motivation and expectations of the conference. The following are excerpts:

Question: What prompted you to organize this conference? Answer: The idea came up after NU and other religious and political as well as some people in the government met to discuss various conflicts that have religious underpinnings. They are conflicts of interest that exploit religious themes or conflicts of interest affecting areas of certain religious followers that make them feel that they are not being treated fairly and so local leaders exploit religious sentiment to fight back.

Another factor is unnecessary misunderstandings from people in the West toward Islam and vice-versa. If such problems persist, no one will benefit. Muslim communities will perish, especially Islamic countries, because of attacks, blockades or embargoes. The United States will also lose in the court of world opinion even if it does not attack any country.

Thirdly, by abandoning international ethics stipulated in the United Nations Charter, the world will experience chaos ...

We, NU leaders, discussed the idea with Islamic figures in the Middle East, including the moderate ones like the Rector of Al Azhar University in Cairo Syaiful Azhar and hardliners in Libya.

We will also hold discussions with Islamic figures in the West, including Canada, Britain, Australia and the U.S. We came to the same conclusion that the world community does not want the conflicts, but the leaders of certain countries apparently do. This is evident in anti-Iraq protests in Britain, the U.S., and Australia. The protests mean there is a gap between the actions of their leaders and the conscience of the people of the world. What are the main goals of the conference?

Reducing world tension, improving the way Muslims think worldwide, reducing suspicions in the West toward Muslims, and then helping Muslim communities in the field of education, mass media and the economy. How can you help the West understand Islam?

We want to encourage dialog in the West about Islam and what they want from us. We are inviting ulema, Muslim scholars and leaders of Islamic universities, including some in the West that have Islamic studies. We want to keep the meeting free of various political and economic interests which can cause deep divides.

We will talk about religion only; the first goal will be to place religion as a way of life, religion as a teaching, and not a movement mired with conflicts. We will discuss how religion can become a solid ground for unity, peace, prosperity and justice and so on. We will try to get to the roots of how a religion can become a source of conflict. There are likely some vested interests ... Islamic experts, not others, should work to return Islam to its origin. The response has been overwhelming. At least 43 countries will be represented. Are there prominent Islamic politicians attending the conference?

We are not inviting politicians and officials so that discussions on Islam cannot be linked to pragmatic political interests. We have invited Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, but only in his capacity as chairman of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), not as a head of state.

Every time OIC holds a meeting they never agree ... those present are prime ministers, foreign ministers or even oil ministers, so when they talk about Islam they are already co- opted by practical interests. What issues will be discussed during the conference?

There are four main subjects. The first is a declaration, after we all share ideas. The second is about education, the third economy, and the last is about mass media. The last three areas are the main weaknesses of Muslim communities and have to be dealt with. Even then, we will not be that strict, meaning not exclusive. The World Bank and world economic experts may come to talk about economic issues. Do the participants have the ear of their leaders?

At least we can start promoting a moral force and I expect that influential religious figures can do so because we invite leaders who have strong followings. But we must emphasize that hardline militancy is caused by various factors, including misunderstandings about religious tenets, lack of education and also problems with justice. Injustice directed at Muslims will force them to fight back by using Islamic symbols. The situation will be the same if Christians were facing pressure. Hardline militancy is not merely a monopoly of Muslims.

Furthermore, we are now trying to curb terrorism. We see that problems in the Middle East have not been resolved even after the U.S.-led invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. Many terrorists may have fled and developed networks in other countries considered to be friendly to them. New problems have come when the West accuses those countries as part of world terrorist network.

Indonesia is in just such a dilemma and we can only solve it by religious piety and security. We cannot do anything to defend guilty people in the name of certain religion What can NU propose to resolve world conflicts?

First, Muslims have to accept Islam as a religion, which promotes peace. Second, the West should not so readily accuse Islam for being the reason for the world's problems. Third, we urge religious figures worldwide to use their moral authority in their countries to bridge policies of the states and demand the world's communities.