Page 444 - INDONESIAN ISLAMIC CULTURE IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES

consequences of reform, these changes
434 Indonesian Islamic Culture in Historical Perspectives
aware of communisms’latent danger and possible consequences (MUI 2002). The Like the fatwa on corruption, the one
seem to have been inter-related and to it suggested the people unite to dispel issuance of this fatwa did not seem to on terrorism also did not receive much
have reinforced each other. The MUI this threat at all cost. have any significant consequences on public or mass media attention. The
distanced itself from the government The MUI’s distancing from the both society and the governmentsince reason was that the people probably
because Abdurrahman Wahid’s government and the growing influx widespread corruption remained ever- realized that the fatwa on terrorism had
administration had terminated state of clerical institutions into the state- present. Moreover, the fatwa failed to not been issued whole heartedly, not
funding. Gus Dur’s proposal to cancel political discourse emerged from a attract public attention and was barely only because of the MUI’s incredibly slow
the decision to prohibit communism and discussed in the mass media or in the response, but also because the MUI’s
the ban of the PKI in force since 1966 fatwa presented to the government in anti-corruption movement. membership was dominated by Islamist
and to state that it violated Human Rights 2002 against bribery, corruption, and groups that adhered to fundamentalist
and his proposal to open diplomatic gratifications. The MUI had actually After the 2001 World Trade Center ideologies which in some cases even
and economic relations with Israel never issued a fatwa on this issue. As bombing in the United States, rampant overlapped with those of radical Islamist
strengthened the MUI’s distancing from stated above, initially, the MUI tended acts of terrorism committed by radical groups. Moreover, the MUI itself did not
the government. to be silent and even legitimized Islamic groups that targeted the have a program on its agenda to follow-
government’s policies. In the era Western-Pagan symbols in Indonesia
Rejecting Gus Dur’s proposal to abrogate Reformation, it reversed this reticent drew much public attention, both up the fatwa.
the ban on communism and the PKI, attitude. In the case of the fatwa on nationally and internationally. In those In 2010, the MUI was invited to
the MUI issued two recommendations, corruption, the MUI felt the urge to cooperate with the National Counter
which in essence contained a warning to present itself as an organization that years, tourist destinations, cafes, Terrorism Agency (Badan Nasional
the Indonesian people that Communist/ took part in the passionate changes hotels and foreign embassies were Penanggulangan Terorisme, BNPT) as
Marxist-Leninist thoughts were anti- that were taking place by responding to among the targets of suicide bombings a follow up of the MUI’s 2004 fatwa to
God and anti-religion ideologies aimed the people’s demands to end massive ranging from the bombings in Kuta and make a series of discourse programs
to destroy the ethical and religious corruption, bribery and gratifications Legian, Bali, to the bomb attacks on the (halaqah) on counter-terrorism in a
principles contained in the Pancasila. within the government. 68 Australian embassy and the J.W. Marriot number of cities in the country. Some
69
It rejected all attempts to abort MPR Hotel in Jakarta. The MUI responded Islamic fundamentalist organizations
Decree no. 15/1996, and it invited Quoting some Qur’anic verses in to these incidents fairly slowly and such as Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI)
the members of the DPR/MPR to act addition to the opinions of various only issued a fatwa in 2004. The were against the program since it was
wisely and not to forget the country’s influential Muslim scholars, the MUI fatwa on terrorism essentially aimed thought to be an attempt to distort and
miserablepast. In its second advice, declared that both giving and receiving at distinguishing terrorism from holy manipulate Islam by way of utilizing
the MUI declared that if the PKI bribes and committing corruption were war (jihad) and to the public the MUI Muslim scholars. 70
rebellion in 1965had succeeded, life unlawful. Whether offering gratifications underlined its decision that terrorism
in the country, especially for religious to government officials is unlawful or was forbidden, especially the suicide HTI objected to the conclusion of many
communities,would have been very hard. not depended on the context and its bombings that occurred in Muslim 69. Bagir etal. 2011, Laporan Tahunan, p. 20.
So it was important for Indonesians to be 68. Ichwan 2005, “Ulama, State and Politics”, p. 65. majority countries like Indonesia. 70. Bagir etal. 2011, Laporan Tahunan, p. 20.
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