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Indonesia Struggles With Extremism
Muslim group issues Fatwa banning liberalism, secularism and
pluralism
David Kootnikoff (kaspian)
Indonesia celebrates its sixtieth anniversary later this month.
Throughout its short history, this predominantly Muslim country has
struggled with extremist elements.
Last week a group called the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) issued
a fatwa denouncing Islamic interpretations based on liberalism,
secularism and pluralism. Among the practices targeted are mixed
marriages and joint prayers with people of different faiths.
While the fatwa has been met with strong criticism and condemnation
by Muslim scholars and clerics alike, MUI still exercises a large
influence over certain sections of Indonesia's Muslim community. 88%
of Indonesia's 241,973,879 population are Muslim.
Three weeks ago, some 10,000 people from a Muslim group calling
itself the Indonesian Islamic Community attacked the Ahmadiyah
Indonesia Congregation (JAI) Campus in Bogor, 2 hours south of
Jakarta. The group claimed to be inspired by a 1980 fatwa issued by
MUI declaring Ahmadiyah's teachings, which recognize its founder to
be the last Muslim prophet rather than Muhammad, to be heretical.
Ahmadiyah is little known in Indonesia and there are only an
estimated 200,000 followers in the country. The incident has sparked
intense debate throughout Indonesia.
Founded in 1975, MUI was used as an extension of state policy during
the so-called "New Order" period of former dictator Suharto.
Although its foundation was engineered by Suharto, and it continues
to be funded by the government, MUI is not a statutory body anchored
in law, but an independent non-governmental institution. Its fatwa
are not legally binding.
When Suharto's regime collapsed in 1998 and the current period
of "Reformasi"(reform) began, MUI's role had to be redefined. Many
see its inability to adapt to changing realities as a reason for
their increasingly conservative and zealous positions.
Indonesia prides itself on tolerance and "unity in diversity" adorns
its coat of arms. However, ethnic conflict and extremism has too
often broken through to the surface. The current administration of
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) has been accused of being
too timid in its reaction to the MUI fatwa. While they condemned the
attack, the government also considered outlawing the Ahmadiyah for
causing public disorder.
"Our main concern is public order. We don't care about the content,"
said Attorney General Abdul Rachman Saleh.
The government also fears that legitimate measures to stamp out
extremism will be seen as appeasing western powers such as Australia
and the U.S.
In the absence of strong government action, scholars and activists
grouped together as the Democratic Education Association have spoken
out. This week they issued a joint statement condemning the MUI for
undermining the principles of nationhood and democracy. They also
urged the President's administration to be proactive in upholding
pluralism.
One prominent Muslim scholar, Azyumardi Azra, told the Jakarta Post
this week that the MUI was issuing fatwa without consulting relevant
Muslim figures or complying with fiqih, or Islamic jurisprudence.
"The MUI cannot ban Muslims from thinking," he said, "because
pluralism, liberalism and secularism are not ideologies but ways of
thinking. To some extent, the MUI's fatwa are against freedom of
expression and human rights in general."
M. Bilah of the National Commission on Human Rights agreed, saying
the fatwa constituted a violation of human rights.
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