Backlash for islamic reforms...

[bmolsson]

There has been a backlash in the islamic reforms here in Indonesia. Not so serious, but it gives the nutjobs an excuse...

MUI's fatwa encourage use of violence


Concluding its seventh congress last week, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) issued eleven fatwa that sparked concern over its increasingly conservative stance. Prominent Muslim scholar and rector of the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Azyumardi Azra shared over the weekend with The Jakarta Post's Ridwan Max Sijabat his opinion on the controversial views of the MUI.

Question: The MUI has issued several contentious fatwa. What is your comment?

Answer: It is most regrettable that the MUI seems to be issuing edicts without consulting the relevant Muslim figures, or dialog with the parties concerned. The fatwa are not enforceable, nor are they binding. It does not have the authority to enforce them.

What do you think is the background of this growing conservatism?

There is something that has been changing in the organization -- before and entering the reform era. The MUI has shifted from being umat-oriented to being government-oriented. During the New Order era, the MUI was used by former president Soeharto's regime as a tool to justify government policies. For instance, the MUI issued a fatwa that allowed the consumption of frogs. The edict was issued to annul another edict banning frog consumption -- issued by the MUI's West Sumatra branch -- and to support the government policy on the acceleration of non-oil commodity exports.

Entering the reform era, the MUI sought to be independent and become closer to the umat (members of the Muslim community). But the fact is that the MUI does not represent all Muslims and this is evident in the increasing number of Muslims questioning and denouncing the edicts.

Why have pluralism, liberalism and secularism been declared forbidden? Are they really against Islam?

The problem here is that the MUI has an understanding that differs from the academic perception on the three isms, because they are dominated by groups who take the Koran and hadith (Prophet Muhammad's sayings) literally and without any rationale or logic.

The Koran teaches tolerance -- including of other religions. The Koran, Prophet Muhammad and Islamic teachings accept differences not only as a reality but also as Allah's grace.

Liberalism is forbidden because the MUI is of the opinion that liberals no longer believe in the Koran, Prophet Muhammad and true Islamic teachings.

The MUI cannot ban Muslims from thinking, 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.

Why are the edicts outlawing mixed marriages, and on joint prayers with people of different faiths, considered controversial?

The fatwa banning mixed marriages between people of different faiths and of joint prayers performed with people from other faiths negates pluralism. Islam is not the only religion in the country and Muslims have to be able to live side-by-side with people of different faiths.

With the growing controversy, many people are starting to question the necessity of an organization such as the MUI.

But it must be underlined that the MUI is not a state institution. It can issue fatwa and orders to Muslims, but they are not binding and it does no have the authority to enforce them. Legal authorities in the government have no obligation to enforce the edicts while Muslims are not obliged to comply with them.

Because the MUI has no authority to enforce the controversial fatwa, it is the hard-line groups, like the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) who appear at the frontline to pressure the authorities to enforce them. If they believe the authorities have failed, they (the hard-line groups) could directly come to the field to enforce them. I fear that hard-liners will head to Parung in Bogor regency, to bulldoze the Ahmadiyah boarding school and drive away its supporters based on the MUI's fatwa that Ahmadiyah is a heretical sect.

What would you recommend for the MUI in the future?

The MUI should clearly pause for reflection. The MUI plays a strategic role in this predominantly Muslim nation and, therefore, it should consult with all stakeholders in the Muslim community before issuing fatwa.

The MUI will be fully respected and its edicts will be complied with if the edicts are based on fiqih (Islamic jurisprudence) -- not on political interests -- dialogs with all stakeholders and the interests of all Muslims and of the nation in general.

Honestly, I have received many telephone calls complaining about the edicts.

[Navaros]

the Koran is what it is: a Holy Book that is conservative

it should come as no surprise that there are some men who are bold enough to stand up for what their Holy Book declares in spite of the natural world hating them for it

i say, cheers to these conservative reforms! ~:cheers:

[Don Corleone]

Navaros,
Just out of curiousity...despite your admiration for these folks, you do realize that as a filthy khafir, your life ain't worth squat when they take over, right? Do you value your right to worship Jesus so little that you're actively encouraging groups that would force you to stop by any means necessary? Of all the people in here, I would have thought YOU have the most against them. One of these days, I'm going to have to post some links for you where the more extremist Wahabists have claimed that Jesus Christ was a homosexual and Christianity is a way to worship decadence. Maybe that'll open your eyes.

[bmolsson]

There are reactions though:

MUI slammed over controversial fatwas


Hera Diani and Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, Yogyakarta

More condemnation has been heaped on the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) for issuing draconian fatwas outlawing liberal Islamic thought and pluralism, raising the question as to whether the Council should be dissolved.

Scholars and activists grouped in the Democratic Education Association (P2D) issued a joint statement on Monday condemning the MUI for undermining the principles of nationhood and democracy.

Read by lawyer/human rights activist Todung Mulya Lubis, the Association criticized the fatwas as unconstitutional, and as hampering nation-building efforts in this country.

"Our constitution is not perfect and it still needs further amendment. But it is supported by all of society, so it cannot be undermined or negated," Todung told a media conference, which was also attended by Muslim scholars Azyumardi Azra, Siti Musdah Mulia, Hasyim Wahid and Ulil Abshar Abdalla, as well as democracy activist Smita Notosusanto.

The MUI concluded a four-day national congress last Friday with the issuing of 11 edicts, one of which stipulates that Islamic interpretations based on liberalism, secularism and pluralism "contradict Islamic teachings."

Another fatwa renewed the ban on the Ahmadiyah sect, and asked the government to take action against the group. The earlier Ahmadiyah fatwa has been blamed for justifying the attack on an Ahmadiyah congregation by Muslim extremists last month.

The Democratic Education Association said that pluralism was a fact of life and was supported by the founding fathers when establishing the Republic. The fatwas showed that the MUI was out of line with the development of democracy, which requires pluralism and the protection of citizens rights.

"The issuance of the fatwas shows how weak the concepts of nationhood and democracy are in this country. We would urge the government to uphold these concepts by protecting and guaranteeing people's constitutional rights," said the statement.

The association also urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's administration to be proactive in maintaining pluralism instead of bowing to the fatwas.

Azyumardi said that the fatwas had the potential to divide not only Muslim from non-Muslim, but also Muslims themselves.

"The fatwas are not in line with the principles of Islam, which promotes tolerance and peaceful dialog with people of differing views," he said.

Azyumardi then urged the MUI to hold an open discussion with people from different fields of expertise, not only Islamic jurisprudence.

"The government must not give in to the demands of certain groups, which might use these fatwas to attack other groups. If the government doesn't do anything about this, it would set a bad precedent and be very dangerous."

As the implications of the fatwas were huge, the scholars urged the government to discuss these matters with the MUI with a view to resolving the issue.

They also urged the MUI to reform itself, and involve people of differing views instead of only conservative mullahs.

"The ideal job for the MUI, if people still want it to exist, is to promote dialog between Muslims themselves, as well as with other groups," Ulil said.

Meanwhile, National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) member M. Bilah, who chairs the investigation into the recent attack on an Ahmadiyah congregation in Bogor, said the constituted a violation of human rights.