Malayan Arabic

… in Aceh must learn Malayan Arabic.

Professor Muslim Ibrahim of the Aceh clerical council, Majelis Permusyawaratan Ulama (MPU) and a literature lecturer at the Ar-Raniry Islamic university, IAIN, in Banda Aceh, says it is vital that all Muslims in the province learn to read Malayan Arabic (Arab-Melayu), called locally jawoe ( jawi elsewhere in Indonesia). Malayan Arabic/ Jawoe is the written form of Arabic developed by Muslims in Aceh in the early stages of the religion's …

Sunni vs Shia

… plans to cool the Sunni vs Shia conflict in Iraq.

Hasyim Muzadi, the leader of Nahdlatul Ulama, says he wants to be the mediator in the Sunni versus Shia bloodbath in Iraq. In Jakarta in early April 2007 Hasyim will lead a conference which seeks to find the best solution to the conflict, a conference which will include participants from many Muslim countries in the world.

Hasyim Muzadi.

The most important thing is that we sit at one table. We would like to know directly …

Comment by Ihaknt: … first, AKA Indonesia, instead of meddling in …

Militants

… with militant Islamic preachers.

Maruf Amin, the head of the Fatwa Commission of the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI), admits there are still a fair number of militant Islamic preachers and fanatics who preach the "war verses" from the Quran and encourage hatred of non-Muslims.

Maruf was speaking in Jakarta on the 9th in respect of statements made by the visiting Islamic Affairs minister of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Saleh bin Abdul Aziz bin Muhammad bin Ibrahim Al-Seikh. The Sheikh …

Comment by Naga: … parties in Indonesia, and because the current govt …

Lembaga Dakwah Islam

The Lembaga Dakwah Islam Indonesia (LDII) is battling to avoid the heretic label.

The Council of Muslim Clerics, (Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI)), has in the past viewed some practises of the LDII, the Indonesian Islamic Propagation League, a hardline group in the past linked to the Indonesian Islamic State movement, (Negara Islam Indonesia (NII)), as being "exclusivist" and therefore unacceptable.

The MUI's …

Jihad Sin

… cleric.

Zainuddin Ali, the head of the Central Sulawesi branch of the Clerics' Council, (Majelis Ulama Indonesia, MUI), said on the 31st in Palu during a meeting with police that the concept of jihad as found in the Koran was no longer entirely relevant today.

In the time of Muhammad there were many infidels who waged war against Islam. But today it's difficult, there are many people who follow different religions but they are not enemies to each other.
(Pada zaman Rasulullah …

Comment by Julita: … discussing about Indonesia and the little pockets of …

Ahmadiyah & Human Rights

… (Komnas HAM, Komisi Nasional Hak Asasi Manusia) detailing attacks on the Jemaah Ahmadiyah Indonesia (JAI) sect in 2005 and 2006 has found that the group's members have suffered gross human rights violations.

The Ahmadiyah sect, originating in Pakistan, arrived in Indonesia in 1925 and for much of its history in Indonesia was largely unmolested. However in 1980 the Council of Clerics (Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI)) issued a fatwa against the sect declaring their brand of Islam a …

Comment by sgn: … (3) Persatuan Indonesia (4) Kerakyatan yang Dipimpin …

Pamekasan Protest

… would be taken into consideration.

However Alwi, the Secretary of the local branch of the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI), the clerical council, said the proposed law was already the result of much thought and that it was flexible. He advised those who opposed the law to re-read it.

When questioned he did not deny that the law was part of the MUI's long term plan to apply Islamic law in the city. suarasurabaya

Comment by Aluang anak Bayang: … of thousands of Indonesia’s daughters mistreated in …

Sharia Wimps

… are urged not to be limp-wristed about encouraging local sharia laws.

Chairman of the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI), Indonesian Clerics' Council, Ma'ruf Amin, says that leaders of regional branches of the MUI must support local governments in developing laws based on Islamic sharia law. Those who fail to do so he calls banci, wimpish or effeminate.

[Branches of] the MUI which don't push for the creation of regional sharia laws are wimps.
(MUI yang tidak bisa mendorong Pemda …

Comment by Hassan: … in today’s Indonesia. I know leniency is a …

Bekasi PNS Scandal

… at the demonstration were Front Pembela Islam (FPI), Dewan Da'wah, Gabungan Remaja Islam, Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI). Many carried posters threatening violators of good morality in Bekasi. kompas Some demonstrators were heard to say that the matter had insulted the Muslim community in Bekasi and that the two PNS were moral terrorists. metrotv

Abdul Qodir Djaelani of the Bekasi branch of the FPI said the two culprits had violated both Islamic and state law and therefore …

Comment by Hassan: … posts here in Indonesia matters then you’ll know …

Erwin Arnada

… editor Erwin Arnada.

PT Velvet Silver Media launched a tame version of Playboy magazine in Indonesia in April 2006 and managed to put out three editions, 1, 2, 3, which drew protests from conservative Muslim groups who demanded it cease publication. Its office was relocated to the safe haven of Bali (although not all Balinese were pleased ) after its Jakarta office was attacked by the Islam Defenders Front, Front Pembela Islam (FPI).

Erwin Arnada, happy early but not …

Comment by Dragonwall: … cause. If the Indonesian government cannot do away …

HIV/AIDS

… of AIDS sufferers.

Health minister Siti Fadilah Supari is reported to have said that Indonesia, which currently is estimated to have between 169,000-216,000 HIV carriers, although with only 7,000 full-blown AIDS cases having been reported, will likely reach 500,000 cases of HIV, the virus which causes AIDS, by 2010, if preventive measures are not actively pursued.

Siti Fadilah Supari.

HIV/AIDS is an iceberg phenomenon. It is very likely that there are more HIV/AIDS …

Comment by Tomaculum: Hello Bas, as an Indonesian expat living in Europe and …

Al Qadariah

The Al Qadariah sect in Gorontalo are pronounced heretical.

The Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) in the city of Gorontalo in Sulawesi has issued a fatwa declaring the Al Qadariah Muslim sect to be deviational from the Quran and hadiths on six points. Lukman Katili, head of the fatwa commission, told an anxiously awaiting group of Al Qadariah members: mediaindo

The six points are not to be found in the Quran and hadiths, they are at odds with Islamic …

Population Growth & Family Planning

… occupy the minds of presidents and clerics alike.

The Demography Institute of University of Indonesia (UI) predicts that the rate of growth in the population will have fallen to 1% by around 2020, and that by 2025 the population will be about 275 million people. The population in July 2002 was estimated at 231 million and this year's rate of growth is believed to be 1.3%.

The total fertility rate (TFR) of women in Indonesia in 1997 was 2.78 children per woman, fell to 2.3 in 2000, …

Comment by Parvita: … other parts of Indonesia. Education is important, …

Abortion

… but not in pregnancies resulting from adulterous liasons, says the MUI.

The head of the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI), the main clerical body in Indonesia, Ma'ruf Amin, says that women who have been raped and fallen pregnant are permitted to have an abortion up to the fortieth day of the pregnancy but not after. According to Ma'aruf a hadith, or a book recalling the words and deeds of Muhammad, says that at the fortieth day of pregnancy the unborn child receives its soul or spirit, …

Comment by Boeboe: … sex education in Indonesia must be changed, then. It has …

Christian Police Chief

… chief in the city, replacing Rochiyanto.

The clerics, who came from such organisations as the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI), Forum Ukhuwah Islamiyah (FUI), Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Muhammadiyah, Majelis Mujahidin Indonesia (MMI), Front Pembela Islam (FPI), Dewan Dakwah Islamiyah (DDI), and included such figures as the chairman of the Cirebon MUI, Syarif Muhammad Yahya bin Syech, the chairman of the FUI, Professor Dr. Salim Bajri, and the principal of the Nurrusidik Islamic boarding school, …

Comment by jack_hartawan: … haven’t? In Indonesia better you changed your …

Muslim Cleric Murdered

… "Yayasan Karisma Usada Mustika" which is currently being investigated by the Bogor branch of the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) over suspicions of heresy. About 1000 members of the Yayasan demonstrated outside the main Bogor police station over the matter of Alih's murder. Currently police have detained three men.

His pregnant wife, Mimin, says she is confused about the murder and that Alih bin Hadi had had no enemies. hariansib She has three children from Alih.

Danish Cartoon Crisis II

Another Muhammad cartoon controversy in Denmark has stirred ill-will among some Indonesian Muslims.

On the 6th Danish state television aired some amateur video footage showing young members of the anti-immigrant Danish Peoples' Party engaged in a competition to draw humiliating cartoons of Mohammad. The filming of the cartoon drawing was done secretly by an "undercover agent" who was attempting to do research on the Peoples' Party and shows a number of young people …

Comment by Andrew: … this: you live in Indonesia, and you love beef rendang. …

Ramadan Discipline & Solemnity

The banging of drums, and Ramadan fasting slackers, are on the minds of the Pamekasan branch of the Majelis Ulama Indonesia.

Kholilurrahman, the chairman of the Pamekasan, Madura, East Java, branch of the cleric's council (MUI) said recently that Muslim public servants (Pegawai Negeri Sipil (PNS)) in the city who did not observe the fast during Ramadan should be punished by the local government. This, he said, would be an admirable way of giving the city's motto, Gerbang Salam, real …

Jamiyatul Islamiyah

Theocracy in action in West Sumatra as the city government of Padang teams up with the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI), and the mob, to close down a mosque used by the heretics of the Jamiyatul Islamiyah.

The mosque, Masjid "Baitul Izza", in Jl. Proklamasi, South Padang, belonging to the Jamiyatul Islamiyah (JmI) sect, was sealed by a mob as the mayor of the city Fauzi Bahar, and the police, looked on with approval. Mayor Fauzi, who had just previously cancelled the building …

Papal Speech

Pope Benedict's speech and the muted reaction of Indonesian Muslim leaders.

Speech

Pope Benedict XVI addressed students at Regensburg University, Germany, and delivered a highly scholarly speech, called "Faith, Reason and the University - Memories and Reflections", in which he devoted a very brief time to the discussion of Islam and violence.

The point of the speech was to show how the abandonment of reason, or logos, had led …

Comment by Miss Indo 07: … it’s only in Indonesia but then I see that it …

TV Temptation During Ramadan

The Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) advises what should not appear on television screens during the upcoming "holy month" of Ramadan.

Chairman of the Ulema Council, Ma'ruf Amin, warned television stations recently not to show any programs that would be offensive to the soon approaching celebration of the fasting month of Ramadhan.

Stop programs which are offensive to the Islamic holy …

Comment by Peace: … on mythos. But in Indonesia the trend of religion …

Schools of Thought

Ma'ruf Amin of the Majelis Ulama Indonesia says that competing schools of thought within Islam have to be accepted with tolerance except when they are heretical.

Ma'ruf says that the role of the MUI is to basically harden or straighten out views within Islam that are too soft or lack firmness and to soften or moderate those opinions which are too hard or unbending. He marks out the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) as …

Preaching Moderation

The Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) is assembling the troops to combat the proselytizing activity of hardline Islamic groups, and also liberal ones.

In a meeting of about 150 NU proselytizers, or preachers, ( dai ) from Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi at the Asrama Haji Pondokgede, in Jakarta on the 2nd, Ma'ruf Amin, who is also the chairman of the Fatwa Commission of the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI), …

Death Penalty

… of capital punishment, particularly in light of the case of Fabianus Tibo, H. Amidhan, of the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI), said that within Islamic law the death penalty was permitted. In its application, he went on, there should be no feelings of pity for those to be punished in such a way. He urged the government to be firm in carrying out the punishment, according to the law.

Within Islam, he added, there was the provision for the carrying out of the punishment to be instead …

Comment by Muhamad Dian Eka Paksi: … is applied in Indonesia.Because in Indonesia is a lot …

Female Circumcision

The Ulema Council, Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI), says female circumcision is necessary for Muslims.

H. Amidhan of the MUI, speaking in Banjarmasin, said that his august organisation had no problems with female circumcision, because it was a duty for Muslims, was safe and did not cause any health problems for those who underwent it.

Circumcision is especially meant to be done for a Muslim, because …

Comment by Andy: … believe me. In Indonesia Schapelle Corby’s baggage …

Tibo Execution

… Palu in central Sulawesi between 1998 and 2000, but, as Father Rinaldy Damanik, the head of the Majelis Sinode Gereja Kristen Sulawesi Tengah (GKST), explains :

If Tibo is executed then just who will the amnesty be given to? Why are Tibo, & co. not included in discussions of granting amnesty?
(Kalau Tibo dieksekusi, lantas kepada siapa saja amnesti itu akan diberikan. Kenapa Tibo dan kawan-kawan sama sekali tidak dimasukkan dalam pembicaraan pemberian amnesti itu.)

Brigadier …

Comment by SundRamoorthy: … religious riots in Indonesia. Correct me if I am wrong, …

Lebanese Jihad

… West Sumatra had been recorded as having signed up for jihad duties under the banner of the Majelis Mujahidin Indonesia ( MMI ) and assisted by the Committee for the Application of Islamic Laws, Komite Penegak Syariat Islam (KPSI). Registration had opened on 31st July. By 8th August their number had grown to 57. To qualify as jihadists the men had to be of sound mind and body, have identification cards, and really wish to wage war for Islam, said Irfianda Abidin of the KPSI. Those …

Comment by Rockstar: … always help Indonesia whenever we’re in troubles. …

Infotainment Gossip Shows

The Nahdlatul Ulama's fatwa against television gossip shows.

At their national conference at the end of July the clerics of the NU determined that Muslims who make or watch celebrity gossip shows, or "infotainmen", commit sin and participate in the moral degradation of the nation. The issuing of the fatwa has drawn the support of a number of groups including the Press Board, the PPP, Partai Persatuan …

Israel & Lebanon II

The middle eastern crisis and Indonesian reactions to it.

Continued from part I and the Palestinian cause.

Jihad

Muhammadiyah advises against sending any jihadists to Palestine & Lebanon. The United Nations should be relied upon to resolve the problems, Muhammadiyah leader Din Syamsuddin said on 28th July. But, he said, those who did go to Lebanon could not be classed as suicide bombers, suicide …

Comment by Hassan: … is mostly sunni, Indonesia is mostly sunni too, you got …

Christian Law

Sexual immorality is the enemy of not only Muslims in Indonesia but also Christians, says a senior religious leader.

Adian Husaini, of the Dewan Dakwah Islamiyah Indonesia (DDII), in speaking to a national conference of the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) in Jakarta, on the 25th, said that sexual sin was opposed by Islam, Christianity, and Judaism together, with almost equal ferocity in the area of prescribed punishments among the three …

Comment by Ronald: … love. God bless Indonesia.

Ban Playboy

The chairman of the Ulema Council, the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI), has asked the government to ban Playboy magazine.

Din Syamsuddin, of the MUI, said :

If need be the president himself should take firm action.
(Kalau perlu Presiden sendiri yang bertindak tegas.)

Din said Playboy had violated the law in that it was obscene. What's more it was distributed in an unrestricted manner, freely available on the streets to …

Comment by Edith Abigail: … magazine in Indonesia? It’s so artistic and I …

The Jakarta Charter

… in "the One Supreme God" and the whole principle, with the seven words, reads as follows:

[The Indonesian state is based on] Belief in the one supreme God with the obligation to live according to Islamic law for Muslims.

After being furiously debated for a number of years under president Sukarno, the Jakarta Charter question was forcibly removed from the domain of public discussion under Suharto. Since the fall of Suharto however, and the consequent freeing up of political life in …

Comment by R. Ahmadsyah: … basic in laws in Indonesia. Piagam Jakarta have to …

Nadine Chandrawinata

The Miss Universe contestant from Indonesia, Nadine Chandrawinata, has strutted about in a bikini, to the displeasure of some.

Nadine Chandra Winata, the reigning Miss Indonesia, who was born in Germany but has some Indonesian parentage, appeared in a bikini at a Miss Universe 2006 photo shoot for their annual calendar, despite the fact that she could have chosen to wear a one-piece swimsuit.

Nadine Chandrawinata. …

Comment by Moomoo: … though 80% of indonesian are muslim, that doesnt mean …

Israel & Lebanon

… Persatuan Umat Islam (PUI), and Hizbut Tahrir, marched in Jakarta, gathering around the Hotel Indonesia roundabout, to demonstrate against Israel's attack on Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. Also in attendance was the leader of the FPI, Islamic Defenders Front, Ustad Jafar Sidik. The Palestinian cause has aroused similar outpourings of Islamic solidarity in recent months.

Rally for Palestine.

While the supporters of the PKS were seen to be dominant in numbers terms, …

Comment by Rockstar: This is why Indonesia will never move forward. …

MUI On Problematic Local Laws

The Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) says there are no regional regulations that apply Islamic law.

In a joint statement with various Islamic social organisations the Ulema Councile said that it was a myth that certain city and provincial administrations had promulgated laws that could be said to be forms of sharia.

What they are are rules which have the spirit of sharia, they are for the …

MUI Claims Discrimination

The Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) says the government's plans to disband radical groups such as the Front Pembela Islam (FPI) and Forum Betawi Rempug (FBR) may be evidence the state seeks to protect the sinful.

The government's plans to dissolve some Islamic organisations which often carry out operations against places of sin must not give the impression that the government wishes to …

Comment by Cool Guy: … happened here in Indonesia?Because You are all have …

Banning of the FPI

… in the west Java city of Cirebon several hundred Gus Dur loyalists, members of the NU (Nahdlatul Ulama), demonstrated over the Purwakarta incident of a few days previously, and demanded that the authorities disband the Front Pembela Islam (FPI), as well as the Majelis Mujahidin Indonesia (MMI) and the Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI).

Maman Imanullah spoke at the demonstration thus:

Islam is peaceful. It's not like the way they (FPI, MMI, HTI) show it as these days.
(Wajah Islam …

Comment by Nutz_Nice: … antar agama di Indonesia!

New Fatwas

The Indonesian Ulema Council has issued 19 new fatwas.

1000 members of the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) met at the Pondok Pesantren Modern Darussalam Gontor, Ponorogo, East Java, 25-28th May and concluded their session with the issuance of the nineteen fatwas. Ma'ruf Amin, the chairman of the Fatwa Commission of the MUI said :

The 19 fatwas are divided into three groups, that is, fatwas …

Comment by Anonymous_aloy: … you and I am sure Indonesia will be a failed nation if it …

NU Mosques Subverted

A leader of the Nahdlatul Ulama says hundreds of his organisation's mosques have been taken over by fundamentalists.

Chairman of the Pengurus Besar Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), or central committee of the NU, Masdar F Mas'udi, while speaking out against violence and intimidation done by radical Islamic groups, made the interesting statement:

Recently hundreds of mosques built by NU people have been taken over by …

Comment by wiralaksamana: … of the country. Indonesia should not fall into this …

Inter Religious Harmony

… Wahid (Gus Dur), was targeted by militant Islamic groups such as Front Pembela Islam (FPI), Majelis Mujahidin Indonesia (MMI), Forum Umat Islam (FUI) and Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI).

The dialogue was arranged by the youth wing of the Nahdlatul Ulama, GP Ansor, and was attended by Catholic, Protestant, Confucian, Hindu, and Muslim representatives.

A number of demonstrators managed to enter the building and began making nuisances of themselves.

They were led by the chairman of …

Comment by DianDoank: … the same country. Indonesia.

Debate on Morality Bill

… dan Pornoaksi (RUU APP)" was organised and attended by members of the following Islamic groups:

Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI), Muhammadiyah, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Persatuan Islam (Persis), Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), Al Irsyad, Ikatan Da'i Indonesia (IKADI), Forum Betawi Rempug (FBR), Partai Keadilan Sejahtera (PKS), Dewan Dakwah Islamiyah Indonesia (DDII), Front Pembela Islam (FPI), and the Badan Kontak Majelis Taklim (BKMT).

Muslims rally in Jakarta.

The members and …

Comment by kiwibali: … IT! By passing out Indonesia will run the risk of further …

Madura as a Province

… the island. The declaration was signed by an array of figures including representatives from the Majelis Ulama Indonesia, (MUI), various other religious leaders, mayors and members of parliament for Madura. The regent of Sumenep, however, refused to sign, claiming that he had to wait for the Governor of Madura's signature first.

Some of the more notable content of the declaration included the signatories' vision for Madura as a province. This consisted of the desire to make Madura a place …

Preparatory Committee for the Application of Islamic Laws

… lineage, being the son of Kahar Muzakkar, a leader of the DI/TII (Darul Islam/Tentara Islam Indonesia), a movement in South Sulawesi which violently fought for an Islamic state in the 1950s.

The Committee was remarkably successful in a short time and within only one year it was able to set up representative offices in all of South Sulawesi's regencies. They held three congresses, whereupon it was decided to urge the parliament in south Sulawesi to begin the application of Islamic law …

KTP Religion

… general of the Department of Internal Affairs.

It is one of the themes of this site that if Indonesia is to progress it must downplay differences between religious groups and push outward displays of religion well into the background. The removal of religious identification on ID cards would be one important step in the right direction.

__________________

2nd October 2006.

The soon-to-be-enacted demography bill still requires religious adherence to be displayed on citizens' …

Comment by Robert: … to convince the Indonesian Government. Even foreign …

Blasphemy Arrests in Batam

… the tolerant faith of Islam. The police were tipped off by a clerical organisation, the Majelis Ulama Indonesia, Indonesian Ulama Council, which had previously planted one of its members among the group, called the Klarifikasi Pemahaman Al Quran or "Clarification of Understanding of the Koran".

We sent one person to join in on their worship/service.
(Kami mengirim satu orang untuk mengikuti pengajian itu.)

said Hairul, the chairman of Baitul Rahman mosque.

If we look …

Comment by Tomaculum: … the kebudayaan Indonesia and respect your mbah. …

Condom Vending Machines

… machines in west Sumatra province has met with the stern resistance of the local branch of the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI), Indonesian Ulema Council.

The chairman of the MUI in Sumatra Barat, Nasrun Harun, said that all elements of society in the province were fiercely opposed to the measure.

Elva Zulmaini of the family planning organisation said that the plan to introduce the machines had been put back due to the non-conducive atmosphere.

According to this study, …

Ahmadiyah Lombok

… were not protected.

As mentioned in Muslim Radicalism in 2005 violence targeted against the Indonesian branch of the Ahmadiyah sect has been increasing in recent times and is another of the less desirable consequences of the freeing up of political and social life since the fall of Suharto. The sect holds that Mohammed was not the last prophet but rather the last was a Pakistani, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. This is of course regarded as heresy by mainstream Sunni Muslims.

Some reactions to …

Lia Eden

… be funny.

December 31st 2005. Lia Eden is charged with blasphemy.

According to the Indonesian constitution, Article 28 (e):

(1) every citizen has the right to hold religious beliefs and pray according to these beliefs, choose their education and form of teaching, choose their job, choose their citizenship, live in this country, leave and return to the country; (2) every citizen has the right to hold personal beliefs and express their thoughts and attitudes according to …

Comment by Derianto Kusuma: … from most of ours. Indonesia still have a long long way to …

Wahabi & Wahhabism

The Justice Party-PKS is not a bringer of Saudi Arabian Wahabi Islam to Indonesia, says its leader.

The President of the Justice Party, Partai Keadilan Sejahtera (PKS), Tifatul Sembiring said in Aceh recently that his party was not Wahabi (the extremely strict form of Islam that is dominant in Saudi Arabia), as many accused of it being:

The PKS is clearly not Wahabi.

He said the party was simply based on the Quran and hadiths, and, to prevent its …

Comment by Hary: … place in modern Indonesia politics for any political …

Chinese Muslims

… a new one/become assimilated.

Nationally, according to the Yayasan Persatuan Islam Tionghoa Indonesia (PITI), which was founded in 1961, there are at the least 80,000 Muslim Chinese, while the vast majority of Chinese are Christian or Confucian/Konghucu.

Since 1991 about 1600 people in Jakarta have undergone conversion at the Lautze mosque, one of the most recent of these being Paulus Prasetya, 32 years old, now known as Mohammad Rizqi. He says when he felt called to Islam he …

Comment by dragonwall: … thinking that the Indonesian army is great? And as to …

Political Acronym List

… PBR

Partai Bulan Bintang, PBB

Partai Damai Sejahtera, PDS

Partai Demokrasi Indonesia Perjuangan, PDIP

Partai Keadilan Sejahtera, PKS

Partai Demokrat, PD

Partai Golkar

Partai Kebangkitan Bangsa, PKB

Partai Persatuan Pembangunan, PPP

Partai Keadilan dan Persatuan Indonesia, PKPI

Partai Demokrasi Kebangsaan, PDK

Partai Nasional Indonesia (PNI) Marhaenisme

Partai Pelopor

Partai Penegak Demokrasi Indonesia, PPDI …

Comment by ejabraja: Well, Indonesian political party is seriously …

Blaming the Victim & Others

… that one AKKBB person was carrying a weapon. beritasore

Tgk Faisal M Ali of the Himpunan Ulama Dayah Aceh (HUDA) in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) says the government needs to see the incident in a fully formed way, that the root cause is the weakness in the upholding of law in Indonesia, that it still had not banned the Ahmadiyah sect.

Presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng was having none of it however, and said the delay in the publication of the SKB edict concerning …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … conspiracy in Indonesia is factless, please read …

Islamic-Western Civilization

… because of terrorist actions. At least he can propose a solution on how to deal with this.

Indonesia

Concerning the case of Indonesia, the relationship between Islam and Christianity are divided into two phases. Firstly, the phase before independence and secondly the phase after the period of Indonesian independence.

Dutch Period - Missionaries

Along with the former phase, the relationship between Muslims and Christians was irreconcilable. It could be seen from the case of …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … contribution to Indonesia has been vast- and this is …

US Military Intelligence

American military intelligence agencies and how they gather information about Indonesia.

A referral to this site from a Google search a few days ago:

indonesia matters pesantren alzaytun

So presumably the person who did the above search at Google had read the article on this site about Al Zaytun Islamic boarding school in West Java at some time in the past, and now wanted to find it again, and used Google to do so.

Nothing really interesting in that …

Comment by dewaratugedeanom: … of affairs in Indonesia. Especially the psychological …

Barongsai, & Cultural Assimilation

The assimilation of Chinese into Indonesian society, and rules for celebrating Chinese New Year.

Chinese New Year/Imlek and Cap Go Meh 2559

Since the year 2000 public celebrations of Chinese New Year in Indonesia have been legally permitted however in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, the mayor of the town issued a special decree, No 127/2008, forbidding any staging of barongsai and liong, or lion and dragon dance …

Comment by Cukurungan: … will never leave Indonesia forever his pervious Nick …

Communist Victory

What if the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) had taken over in 1965.

Hypothetical: What Would've Happened if the Communists Took Over in 1965?

Halo Friend,

Time for a "hypothetical", an exercise in imagination, fiction and history. What would have happened if the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) had emerged victorious from the events of September 30, 1965?

I'd like to invite Indonesia …

Comment by Janma: … Malangsia juga Indonesia ya!!! I think it’s pretty …

Konflik Israel-Palestina

Perselisihan Israel dan Palestina, sekaligus hubungan Indonesia dengan Israel.

Mengunjungi Israel

Pada awal Desember 2007, lima wakil dari lembaga Islam Indonesia, termasuk Muhammadiyah dan Nadhlatul Ulama, berangkat ke Israel dan menemui presidennya, Shimon Peres. Kunjungan mereka disponsori oleh Simon Wiesenthal Center dan LibForAll Foundation.

Shimon Peres menyatakan bahwa ia sangat gembira menerima para ulama tersebut, dan ia juga …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … setelah hal itu Indonesia akan selesai membenci …

Israeli Palestinian Conflict

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and Indonesia's relationship with Israel.

Visiting Israel

In early December of 2007 five representatives of Indonesian Islamic organisations, including Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama, travelled to Israel and met its president, Shimon Peres, their trip sponsored by the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the LibForAll Foundation.

Shimon Peres said he was very happy to receive the clerics and …

Comment by Ignorant Aussie: … good will from Indonesia to Israel, as Indonesia …

Pengampunan Pak Harto

… mengenai pencurian modal Negara telah diperbincangkan kembali.

Hidayat Nur Wahid

Ketua Majelis Perwakilan Rakyat (MPR) Hidayat Nurwahid menekankan bahwa Soeharto harus tetap diadili, karena

"Undang-Undang Dasar menyebutkan Negara [Indonesia sebagai] Negara hukum."

Lain lagi dengan mantan jawara 'Reformasi' Amien Rais, beliau menganjurkan sebaiknya pemerintah dan masyarakat memaafkan Soeharto sepenuhnya, sekaligus mengakhiri segala kasus pidana maupun perdata …

Comment by Dragonwall: … itu masyarakt di Indonesia sekarang menderita sesuatu …

Morality Police

… and Peace
Aliansi Bhinneka Tunggal Ika

representatives of which met at the Nahdatul Ulama building in Jl. Kramat, Jakarta on 3rd December, fear that this article, among others, will result in the creation of a morality police in Indonesia intent on rooting out pornography, or more instances of " sweeping " against places where sinful activities are known to be going on.

Hendardi of the Setara Institute says:

Articles 22 and 24 could create anarchy with irresponsible …

Comment by raden: So … will Indonesia’s anti-porn bill protect or …

Military Coup

Little chance of a military coup in Indonesia.

Alfred C. Stepan, Professor of Government from Columbia University in New York, said in Jakarta on 29th October that the TNI, the Indonesian military, would not follow the "trend" in south east Asia of staging a military coup d'etat, like in Thailand, or previously in Burma.

I've been to several south east Asian countries and their situation is worse.

Speaking before …

Comment by naga: … DISCRIMINATIONS IN INDONESIA.” Then why have you …

Stoning

Indonesians are divided on the question of stoning people to death for extra-marital affairs.

1200 people were surveyed by the Indonesian Survey Institute, LSI, 88% of them Muslim, and asked to agree or disagree on various statements or questions. lsi

Public Policy

The government should punish adulterers by stoning them to death. - Yes 43%, No 48%, Don't Know 9%. …

Comment by Si: … here, it shows why Indonesia, inspite of being one of the …

Humorous Sermons

Muslim preachers make too many jokes.

In Salatiga, Central Java on 29th August Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) leader Hasyim Muzadi complained about the following things:

the NU was spineless, one push and it almost fell. At the grassroots the NU was strong but at the top things were lacking. NU management methods had to be fixed up.
NU members got into too many fights about politics and political parties, they were too interested in getting parliament seats or political …

Comment by Falcon: … phylosophy in Indonesia, may be this country can move …

Religious Laws

… chairman of Partai Demokrat (PD), Anas Urbaningrum, chairman of the youth wing of Partai Demokrasi Indonesia Perjuangan (PDI-P), Maruarar Sirait, Melki Lakalena from the religion wing of Golkar, and secretary general of Partai Kebangkitan Bangsa (PKB), Yenny Wahid, as well as Universitas Indonesia (UI) lecturer Effendy Gazali, Islam-based sharia laws came in for some criticism.

Anas Urbaningrum, former leader of Himpunan Mahasiswa Islam (HMI), claimed that the local laws based on Islam …

Transnational Islam

Nahdlatul Ulama continues to feel under threat, from politicians, other Muslim groups, and transnational Islamic movements.

Nahdlatul Ulama leader Hasyim Muzadi said on 22nd July that all sections of his organisation, the largest Muslim body in the country, must be on alert against the continual attacks upon it. Speaking to a gathering of 1400 people in Madiun, East Java, he said:

The …

Comment by Raden: … Muslim fellow in Indonesia are moron & low in …

National Insults

Indonesia has suffered a great number of insults to its pride and integrity recently.

Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) leader Hasyim Muzadi said on June 30th that Indonesia had recently suffered two terrible and embarrassing blows, the dancing resurgence of the South Moluccas Republic movement (Republik Maluku Selatan, (RMS)) in Ambon, and the banning of Indonesian Airlines from European airspace, …

Comment by Cukurungan: … white men out of Indonesia, yet you worship a “white …

Individualism

… He made a plea to any terrorists still on the run: antara

They have to understand that Indonesia is a pluralistic country, there are many religions, and jihad is not synonymous with war, swords, and violence.

Meanwhile, in the little village of Donoharjo, Ngaglik, Sleman, Yogyakarta, a kind of party was held on 22nd June in which residents celebrated the capture of several suspected terrorists in their village a week before. About 200 villagers attended and said the Muslim …

Comment by Bas: … make any good to Indonesia. Just make normal people …

Terrrorist Kidnapping

… ready if the police need help in catching those who carried out these "kidnappings".

Meanwhile Majelis Mujahidin Indonesia (MMI) leader Fauzan Al-Anshori made similar comments about the arrests, particularly that of Yusron Ahmamud alias Mahfud in Banyumas, saying they were not done according to proper procedure. He said the arrests were carried out so the government could divert attention from the real problems of the country.

Further he also said he was unhappy that since the first …

Comment by Dragonwall: … masyarakat ala Indonesia.

Fraternizing

Young men and women are still mixing freely in Aceh.

The Majelis Permusyawaratan Ulama (MPU), a clerical body, said in May that "cafes" in the capital Banda Aceh, like roadside stalls and simple restaurants, were still allowing young girls and boys, who weren't related to each other or married, to fraternize unsupervised by sitting next to each other, even while it was time to pray.

Tengku Muktaruddin Bayan of the MPU said:

Because of this we …

Comment by Dimp: … is no way that Indonesia pay the foreigners more money …

National Ideology

… said on 24th May while launching the book "Gerakan Islam Syariat: Reproduksi Salafiah Ideologis di Indonesia", The Islamic Sharia Movement: Reproduction of Salafi Ideology in Indonesia, that the issue of making Indonesia an Islamic state was still "latent".

Abdul Mu'ti.

The rise of democracy since 1998 had given room for the sharia movement to grow, while, going back to 1945, the amending of Article 29 on Religion in the constitution still excited debate. Those who advocated an …

Comment by Julita: … there are many Indonesians who still need to open …

Militant Islam

… preachers are increasingly teaching a hardline, militant Islam.

The head of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Hasyim Muzadi, said in Indramayu, West Java, on 31st May that since the post Suharto "reformasi" era Islamic clerics in Indonesia were increasingly likely to preach a "hard" type of Islam that was influenced by the culture of violence overseas, like in the middle east. Such hardline teachings were not appropriate in Indonesia, he said. (see also Militants.)

Clerics should base …

Comment by Dimp: … Hasyim Muzadi in Indonesia, and more actions and less …

Islamic Caliphate

… of the non-legalistic Sufi form of Islam in the province, and the strength of the Nahdlatul Ulama organisation there, a group which has little interest in formalising Islamic sharia law. Nevertheless the East Java branch of Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), Hizbut Tahrir being an organisation that is banned in many countries, continues to campaign for sharia.

On 29th April 2007 the HTI held a gathering of Muslim women at the Surabaya Womens' Building during which, says Iffah Rhoma of …

Comment by Mohammed Khafi: … Bahasa Indonesia translations are some of the …

Inter-Parliamentary Union

Reactions to the visit of Israeli parliament members to Indonesia.

A delegation from the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, is likely to attend the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting at Nusa Dua, Bali from April 29th to May 4th, 2007.

The Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) has led the opposition to the visit. PKS President, Tifatul Sembiring asked the government to not allow the Israeli MP's to visit, as a sign of Indonesia's …

Comment by McFadden: … By the way, I’m Indonesian by birth, but as a believer …

Shia Islam

Pressure on Shia Islamic groups in Indonesia is growing.

On 10th April in Sampang, Madura island, East Java, the home of a Shiite cleric was attacked by a mob of more than 100 people. The attackers carried sharp weapons and attempted to enter the cleric's home but were prevented from doing so by police. No-one was hurt. metrotv

Still in East Java, but on the mainland, on 20th April thousands of people in the town of …

Comment by timdog: … history book on Indonesia, this topic will be covered. …

Anti Apostasy

… of members of the Anti Apostasy Division (Divisi Anti Pemurtadan (DAP)) of the Forum Ulama Umat Indonesia visited a Christian church (Gereja Kristen Pasundan (GKP)) on Kebon Jati road in Bandung on 4th April to enquire whether the church had broken its agreement not to convert Muslims to Christianity.

Suryana of the DAP said the church had agreed two years ago not to approach Muslims and this agreement had been signed by pastor Krisna from GKP and Muhammad Mu'min from another …

Comment by Arema: … the whole 75% of Indonesia combined. But if they truly …

Biblical Law

… etc, are in conflict with national laws. Richard M Daulay of the Persekutuan Gereja-Gereja in Indonesia, PGI, a Protestant church association, says such laws are not necessary, it is not the business of government to interfere in such things and laws should not be made which apply to only one group in society.

Michael Utama Purnama, of the Antar Iman Indonesian Conference on Religion and Peace (ICRP), another Christian group, says the Manokwari case is an example of regional autonomy …

Comment by Angie: … law. Indonesia, united nation perhaps the …

Jimly Asshiddiqie

Constitutional court head Jimly Asshiddiqie on harmonising Islamic law and Indonesian law.

The head of the constitutional court, Mahkamah Konstitusi (MK), Jimly Asshiddiqie, says Islamic law and Indonesian law have to be brought into harmony.

Islamicness and Indonesianness have to go together harmoniously.

Speaking to a gathering of the Muslimat Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) in Jakarta last week Jimly said unfortunately there were many Indonesians who could not …

Comment by ChiJoker: … left to all things Indonesian. Sounds a bit like the …

UN Resolution 1747

Indonesia supports UN Security Council Resolution 1747 against Iran's nuclear program, and many are upset.

Indonesia, which news agencies and politicians never tire of saying is the "world's most populous Muslim country", joined in the unanimous Security Council adoption of Resolution 1747 which expands existing economic sanctions on Iran due to the Iranian regime's unwillingness to abide …

Comment by Rambutan: … would have made Indonesia an international pariah. Even …

Prison Primitive

Putting criminals in prison is primitive, says ABB.

The head of the Mujahidin Council (Majelis Mujahidin Indonesia (MMI)) Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, said in Pontianak on the 4th that imprisoning criminals, contrary to popular belief, is not a modern (progressive) practice but a primitive one.

Prison sentences were too long, and it cost the government a lot of money to keep people in jail, and it caused the inmate's family to be neglected and to suffer, Bashir said. A punishment could …

Comment by Madesh: … flee illegally to Indonesia. Otherwise he would have been …

Combating Terrorism

Theological and policing approaches to combating terrorism.

Indonesia is currently seeking cooperation with a number of Islamic countries to reduce the threat of terrorism, said Ansyaad Mbai, the head of the anti-terrorism desk of the office of the coordinating minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs.

We are considering cooperation with countries like Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia in implementing a "de-radicalization" program. …