http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaileditorial.asp?fileid=20060508.F01&irec=1
Is NU shifting toward intolerance? Herdi Sahrasad, Jakarta Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) is at a crossroad today. As the country's biggest Muslim organization long known as a moderate group, NU, which means the awakening of Islamic scholars, has begun to depart from its original character toward religious intolerance. The changes were demonstrated by its support for the Indonesian Ulema Council's (MUI) fatwa which declares Jamaah Ahmadiyah heretical and Religious Affairs Minister Maftuh Basyuni's statement that the Ahmadiyah congregation should found a new religion or else renounce its beliefs. Following NU's revelation of its controversial stand, some hard-line Muslim groups declared the blood of the Ahmadiyah congregation halal, which contravenes the Koran that forbids the killing of believers (An-Nisaa:92) On a separate occasion, the NU Central Board announced its support along with Muslim hard-liners and political parties for the enactment of the pornography bill, which critics say will kill freedom of expression and justify state intervention in the private lives of individual citizens. "NU has really moved to the right," Zuhairi Misrawi, a young intellectual of NU, said of the latest developments in the 40 million-strong organization. Later, NU, following in the footsteps of MUI, issued a fatwa that condemns and forbids liberalism, pluralism and secularism. In another twist in its changing image, NU expressed support for sharia-based bylaws adopted by some regencies across the country. The bylaws have given a boost to the phenomenon of "morality police" in the regencies, which in some cases has prompted certain groups to take the law into their own hands. In terms of moderation and tolerance, the moves indicate that NU no longer serves as the last bastion for the promotion of pluralism, secularization and liberalization of Islam in Indonesia. This should worry us and make us anxious. For a long time, NU has been campaigning for pluralism and national integrity. Under the leadership of Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, the Muslim organization was dubbed an umbrella of pluralism and the guardian of freedom and democracy in the face of the authoritarian New Order regime. Expressing his concern about changes in NU behavior, American Indonesianist Robert Hefner cited the phenomena as an indication of an emerging uncivilized society in Indonesia, which does not respect plurality. Other analysts speculate that NU has transformed itself into a communal and sectarian organization which has a hidden agenda to uphold "Islamization" (the unification of Islam and politics) in Indonesia. Zuhairi said that NU's support for the implementation of sharia in some regions and the pornography bill marked a setback and even violation of the organization's 1926 khittah (founding principles), which view pluralism and multiculturalism as rahmatan lil alamin (a blessing for all humankind and the universe). NU's khittah is moderate and tolerant to others, respectful of pluralism and differences within Indonesian society. The question is why has NU changed into an intolerant Islamic organization? One of the answers is the lack of independence among the NU leaders in their socio-religious policy making. As we know, some top NU leaders are also active in MUI, so there are fundamental influences from MUI leaders on NU in determining the organization's policies, stance and behavior, especially in responding to complex socio-religious problems. Another reason is NU lacks liberal and enlightened leaders such as Gus Dur, who during his tenure as chairman played a key role in shaping the organization as a promoter of moderation and tolerance. Now, the changes are going the hard-liners' way. It not only legitimizes the totalitarian rule they are seeking, but also silences and marginalizes moderate Muslims. Religious intolerance has loomed. We hope, in the near future the visionary and moderate ulema of NU, Muhammadiyah and other Islamic groups cognizant of this development will take actions to overcome it. The writer is Associate Director of the Center for Islam and States Studies at Paramadina University, Jakarta. He was a visiting fellow at Monash University, Australia and Indiana University, the United States. printer friendly [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Protect your PC from spy ware with award winning anti spy technology. It's free. http://us.click.yahoo.com/97bhrC/LGxNAA/yQLSAA/uTGrlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Post message: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] List owner : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
