The Jakarta Post, March 25, 2003
Jihad unnecessary in Iraq war: RI leaders
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Yogyakarta
The government and religious leaders said on Monday jihad in Iraq could be performed
in many ways other than sending volunteers to fight against the United States and its
allies.
Religious affairs minister Said Agiel Munawar suggested that people express their
solidarity for Iraq in an appropriate manner.
"The government has no right to ban people from performing jihad, but it must be done
in the right context," Said Agiel told reporters after joining Nahdlatul Ulama Youth
(IPPNU) in a meeting with Vice President Hamzah Haz.
Said Agiel was commenting on certain Muslim groups, including the Justice Party
and Islam Defenders Front (FPI), who opened registration for volunteers to conduct a
humanitarian mission or to fight alongside Iraqi troops against the U.S. and its allies.
He said those who wished to go to Iraq would face serious problems, particularly
because they had no knowledge of the battlefield or adequate equipment to help Iraqi
troops.
"There are many ways to perform jihad because even big countries have failed to
prevent the U.S. and its allies' act of aggression," Said Agil said referring to fellow
members in the United Nations Security Council, France, Russia and China.
Speaking during his visit to Yogyakarta, defense minister Matori Abdul Djalil shared
his colleague's views.
"Our religion (Islam) teaches us that upon witnessing a violation, we are only obliged
to prevent it or fight against it if we have the power. But, if we don't have the power,
then we are obliged to fight it with words," said Matori, who like Said Agiel is a
member of the country's largest Muslim group Nahdlatul Ulama.
Matori suggested that jihad in Iraq be called off due to the volunteers' lack of
preparedness and experience.
"It's a pity (to send inexperienced volunteers to Iraq)," he said on the sidelines of his
visit to the Yogyakarta-based Air Force Academy (AAU).
Separately, chairman of the country's second largest Muslim organization
Muhammadiyah, Ahmad Syafii Maarif, said performing jihad in Iraq would not be
effective means to stop the war.
"We don't need to do that. Let's just pray and hope that the U.S. will quickly stop its
invasion," Syafii said.
Both Syafii and Said Agiel insisted that the war in Iraq was not related to religion.
NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi joined the criticism against the call for a holy war in
Iraq, saying Indonesian volunteers sent to the battleground would add to Iraq's
burdens.
He said Indonesians would not stand a chance in fighting in Iraq.
"The conditions are very different, Indonesians there would only burden the Iraqis, so it
is better not to go," he said.
All contents copyright © of The Jakarta Post.
|
