[Indonesian] Muslim leaders condemn support for ISIL
"Saudi Arabia's Top Clerics Condemn Terrorism, Citing Quran"
Ina Parlina, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Headlines | Sat, August 02 2014, 9:33 AM
Leaders of the country’s two largest Islamic organizations have decried growing local support for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), calling it political and counter to Islam.
They urged Indonesian Muslims to not join the war waged by the group, since no solidarity should be put behind the violent movement that has claimed to occupy parts of Iraq and Syria while spreading terror in the region.
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) executive council chair Slamet Effendy Yusuf deplored ISIL for using religion to net supporters from other countries, including Indonesia.
“The public have to be critical. This is not about [establishing] a caliphate [Islamic state]; but [a group] working for its own cause and gains from a sectarian issue,” Slamet told The Jakarta Post on Friday.
Muhammadiyah secretary Abdul Mu’ti voiced a similar concern, reminding all Indonesian Muslims that Islam “did not support violence, but a common good and unity.”
“That’s my point, this [movement] is not in the context of religion [Islam],” Abdul said
He further said that joining the group was not considered a jihad.
“We all need to question the group’s goals. Don’t just follow radicals who tried to win their own wars in other countries; we will be the ones to suffer losses,” he added.
In eight-minute video “Join the Ranks” uploaded recently on YouTube, a man named Abu Muhammad al-Indonesi urged Indonesians to participate in the fight, saying it was an obligation mandated by Allah for Muslims. In the video, Abu is accompanied by a group of men holding firearms — some wearing military attire. English subtitles are included in the video, with a woman chanting in Arabic in the background.
The video was uploaded onto the site after several other videos emerged voicing local support for the radical rebel group.
The National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) has estimated that at least 30 Indonesians are involved in the movement in Iraq under ISIL and in Syria under Jabhat al-Nusra (JN), a prominent Salafi jihadist organization with links to al-Qaeda.
The Citizenship Law bans Indonesians from supporting rebel causes in foreign lands and those who join a resistance group against a legitimate government will lose citizenship.
Ma’ruf Amin, Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) deputy chairman, said although MUI had yet to issue official statement, “in general, if it uses violence, we reject it.”
“We will see how the matter develops [in the country], if it gains more support, we will issue a statement,” he added.
Slamet also urged all Islamic organizations in the country to discuss the matter together.
Newly appointed Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin also made a similar call on Friday, urging Indonesians to not join ISIL and that he hoped all Islamic organizations could raise awareness by intensifying the Islamic teachings of rahmatan lil alamin (a blessing for all mankind), which spread common good in the context of the Indonesia’s integrity and unity.
The minister, who is a member of the United Development Party (PPP), also reminded people that Islam “does not spread fear and violence” and that ISIL “is a radical organization that uses violence in order to fight for what it believes.”
Lukman said that all Indonesian Muslims should not follow an ideology that was “against Pancasila”.
“Do not be influenced and there is no need to follow [them],” he said.
Muslim Leaders Have Roundly Denounced Islamic State, But Conservative Media Won't Tell You That
Research August 21, 2014 2:04 PM EDT ››› MICHELLE LEUNG & ELLIE SANDMEYER
Conservative media figures have wrongly accused Muslim groups and leaders of failing to denounce the violent acts of the terrorist group the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL), despite the fact that numerous Muslim religious authorities, advocacy groups, and Imams have come together to denounce the Islamic State's un-Islamic crimes against humanity.
[...]
ABC News' Laura Ingraham: We're Not Hearing Enough, "If Any," Condemnation Of The Islamic State From The Muslim Community. Laura Ingraham, host of syndicated radio show The Laura Ingraham Show and contributor for both Fox News and ABC News, argued on August 11 that few, "if any," in the Muslim community have condemned the Islamic State, asking, "Where are those people":
--- LAURA INGRAHAM: And it would be nice if more in the Muslim world coming out and condemning what the Islamic State is doing. You're not hearing enough of those voices, if any. I mean, where are those people? [Courtside Entertainment Group, The Laura Ingraham Show, 8/11/14] ---
In Reality, Top Muslim Leaders And Groups -- Like The Organization of Islamic Cooperation -- Have Condemned The Islamic State
Ok .. Iran claims it turned down U.S. request to help defeat ISIS
* Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said he rejected overtures from the United States to join its anti-ISIS coalition * White House is cagey, saying only that it's 'our posture' to never coordinate military or intelligence operations with Tehran * State Dept spokeswoman tells reporters: 'We are not going to cooperate, so obviously that would follow that we haven't asked them to' * But she adds that 'I'm not confirming one way or the other any reports of contact' between the two nations * Khamenei insists: 'They are lying, in saying that it is them who excluded us from their coalition, while it was Iran that refused to participate in this collation to begin with
By David Martosko, Us Political Editor for MailOnline
Published: 17:17 EST, 15 September 2014 | Updated: 21:05 EST, 15 September 2014
American and Iranian leaders tussled Monday afternoon after Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said he rejected overtures from the United States to join its coalition aligned against the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).
OOPS! I forgot political strategy, the obvious fact there is always 'behind the scenes', and the absolute political necessity to be careful of appearances...
Aside: Polling in Scotland has started. Result known about this time tomorrow. ISIS vs Scotland stands in stark contrast of different ways of striving for political independence.
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