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Tuesday, April 29, 2008
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Scoreboard - Islamic Fascists: 1 Indonesia: 0
By Supna Zaidi On Monday, April 28, 2008, Islamic Fascists burned down a mosque belonging to the minority Muslim sect called the Ahmadiyah, while a conference on deeming homosexuality "normal" in March went unnoticed by the majority of Muslims in Indonesia. So, if anyone ever wondered what group Islamic Fascists hate more – "religious heretics" or homosexuals – they got their answer very clearly today. The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), the Islamic Defenders Front (IDF), and other Islamist groups are demanding that the Indonesian government ban the Ahmadiyah as heretics. Otherwise, they will do it themselves. "We will wage war against Ahmadiyah! Kill Ahmadiyah! Kill! Kill! Kill!" - a quote from the Secretary General of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) Sobri Lubis at an anti-Ahmadiyah rally on April 14, 2008. The government is set to decide on whether to ban the Ahmadiyah this week. Ironically, the debate on homosexuality in March did not result in such threats or demands for governmental action. Siti Musdah Mulia of the Indonesia Conference of Religions and Peace said last Thursday in a discussion hosted by the non-governmental organization Arus Pelangi that homosexual behavior is not a choice and invoked ijtihad as a way to reach progressive interpretations of Islam in Indonesian society. Nurofiah of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), added that, "Like gender bias or patriarchy, heterogeneity bias is socially constructed. It would be totally different if the ruling group was homosexuals," she said. The debate on homosexuality continued into the next week with mainstream Islamic groups distancing themselves from Mulia and other "moderate" Muslims by stating that homosexuality was a psychological defect rather than natural, and that homosexual Muslims should repent and return to the straight path (pun intended). As the home to the largest secular Muslim citizenry in the world, Indonesia has already reacted far too timidly in defense of democracy, separation of "church" and state and Islam. Article 29 of Indonesia’s Constitution already protects freedom of religion, which requires the government to allow all religions, including minority Muslim groups like the Ahmadiyah and all forms of religious expression, i.e. Muslims who are homosexuals. But because of pressure from groups like the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), which rose in influence and power under Suharto, the ban is a national issue and an increasingly violent one so long as the government does not act. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono must adamantly reinforce the Constitution by not conceding to the religious right and make a general statement defending freedom of religion and its practice in Indonesia. Further, he must chastise all political parties, activists, and citizens who threatened violence against not only the Ahmadiyah, but the government and country when they attempted to push the President and his government into a corner when stating that if the government didn’t get rid of the Ahmadiyah, they would. Such statements are a threat to the security, peace and stability of Indonesian society and should be jailed or fined now. The religious conference on homosexuality was the correct type of platform where Muslims across the liberal-conservative spectrum came together to debate an issue. The conclusions varied, but the government was not asked to intercede nor did it try to on its own. More importantly, no party present, including the MUI threatened violence when dissenting arguments were raised. The issue of minority religious rights, and any other religious issue must be held to the same standard in Indonesia if it is to remain secular nation. (The writer is editor-in-chief of Muslim World Today, a California based bi-weekly newspaper. Website: muslimworldtoday.com)
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