Pluralism? Muslim Sermons on Public Buses?

I don’t like flying. Never have, never will.

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In the days when I had time to spare, my choice was always the ocean wave rather than way up high.

But one resigns oneself to it, pretending one is on a bus and avoiding the sight of clouds outside your window. Now, however, taking an actual bus here in Indonesia, at least in one major city, is going to be a bit of an ordeal as well.

Bandung, West Java’s top city, has many buses going to and fro on its streets, and the Jakarta Post last weekend reported there’s to be a program for Islamic preachers to board city buses and give sermons.

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Bandung looks normal, but it IS in West Java!

Cops Stop West Java Worship, Appease Islamist Louts 

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Good grief.  

Apart from the fact that no similar opportunity to hector helpless passengers appears to have been offered to Christian, Buddhist or Hindu preachers, who needs sermons when you’re on the way to work?

Anyone Muslim in Bandung, or anywhere in West Java, who wants to enjoy spiritual uplift, has a choice of multitudinous mosques to drop by. Most people who board a bus like to doze off, read a paper, or chat to whomsoever’s sitting next to them.

What gives Bandung City the right to disturb their preferred peaceful pastimes?

But it gets even weirder – the Mayor claims not to know anything about this sectarian propaganda scheme.

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Mayor Ridwan Kamil

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“When they announced it, they did not have my permission. We have no such plan, why did they announce it? I am confused myself,” Ridwan Kamil said.

Seems like Hizonna needs to slap down those who’ve been keeping him in the dark about this bizarre plan, which was announced a few days earlier by H. Latief, the head of religious affairs at the city secretariat.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/08/15/bandung-mayor-has-not-given-nod-to-bus-sermons.html

According to Latief, the sermons will only happen on state-owned DAMRI buses. In Jakarta, they only run to the airport, but in Bandung, I don’t know.

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 Latief

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However, if they are state-owned, all the more reason to stop Latief’s scheme. Indonesia is NOT an Islamic Republic, but a multi-faith nation, so this putative sectarian hi-jack is totally out of order.

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• But Latief’s arrogance is unbelievable. He asserts that the sermons would be better than just daydreaming, communicating through cell phones or sleeping.

No way is that for the likes of some jumped-up wowser like Latief to decide for you or me, buddy! Talking to family or friends, or texting, are splendid ways to pass time on a bus, as indeed is sleeping.

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And it gets worse!

Turns out it’s a joint project between the Ministry of Religious Affairs’ office in Bandung, the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) and Bandung Islamic State University.

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•  Ulemas are ‘scholars’ – so they say.
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• Hell, if the MUI has got anything to do with it, one must hope that the poor mayor can quickly regain control of his city administration. Any clerics the so-called ‘scholars’ approve are almost bound to be bad news!

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•   Ma’aruf
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It was MUI’s Deputy Chair who kindly advised everyone that FGM is a ‘human right!’  

 https://rossrightangle.wordpress.com/2013/03/06/clitoral-clip-no-scraping-suffices-tell-us-islamist-scholars-why-do-it/

And here’s another of their ‘scholars’ talking. 

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“If the act of adultery is by a married person, then stoning is the sentence, while if unmarried, then it’s whipping,” he said.
 http://www.suarapembaruan.com/home/mui-dukung-pelaku-kumpul-kebo-dipidanakan/32705

Syamsul Maarif,  General Secretary of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Jakarta

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So now we have a hint of what Latief means when he says the bus-preacher sermons would touch on the subject of “morals, good deeds, etc.”

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Another Nominee for ‘Imbecile of the Year!’ An Indian ‘Scholar!’

 

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And here’s a fine old fellow, nominated by another reader for our Imbecile of the Year award.

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His name’s Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliar and he’s the chief of All India Sunni Jamiyyathul Ulama.

“Women can never equal men. They are fit only to deliver children. Women cannot withstand crisis situations,” he said. He wondered if there was even a single woman among thousands of cardiac surgeons…

Has he ever MET any women?

And I’d have thought he’d be more concerned with brain surgeons, since he appears to be suffering from advanced senile dementia.

Please note, he’s a senior ulama, which means ‘scholar.’

So do we have a winner?

Does he outclass Manic Melissa in the imbecility stakes?

• Imbecile of The Year? Can Anyone Beat MSNBC’s Manic Melissa?

Musliar seems to be in a class of his own, although what goes on in his class-rooms is another matter, and for that you’ll need to use the link to the Indian newspaper provided!

 

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-kerala-sunni-leader-says-women-only-fit-to-deliver-children-calls-gender-equality-un-islamic-2149865

 

Jakarta ‘Scholars’ Talk of Tolerance – Who’s Their Honoured Colleague?

 

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As a blogger who tries his best to defend Indonesia against present or possible criticism, by pointing out that sectarian nastiness, as exemplified by the FPI, the FUI and Hizbut Tahrir, in no way reflects the thinking of many decent Muslims here, I have to say my task is not always helped by the spokesmen of Islamic organisations which purport to be ‘moderate’ or ‘mainstream.’

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• These terms are of course relative. Compared to the FPI, for example, the MUI ( not to be confused with the FUI) seems ‘moderate.’ Their self-styled ‘scholars’ do not go about revelling in thuggery and vandalism – though some of them are a bit slack about disowning it, and at least one of their senior members is a blood-thirsty bigot, but he’s the king-pin of the FUI.
•    Lively Hustings Likely in West/North Jakarta! 
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Today, flicking through the local news, once more this problem crops up, in respect of the news from Tolkara, in Papua, where a mosque was set on fire last week.

I’ll look at the arson shortly, but first what about the total of 33 scholars who are members of the presidium of the Alliance of Indonesian Ulema (AAUI) who have issued a statement – which actually sounds more like an ultimatum – on the arson.

These gents are given much prominence in Republika.com, which is not surprising, given that newspaper’s Islamic leanings. But who do they represent? 

 

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Well, there are two representatives fom the NU, invariably characterised by all media as ‘Indonesia’s largest moderate Muslim group,’ and one from Muhammadiyah, equally invariably described as the ‘second-largest moderate Muslim group.’

But if you use our link and look at the photo of the platform party, who’s up there with them, speaking up against intolerance?

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From the left, Habib Muhsin Alatas,  Sekretaris Majelis Syura of the FPI….    http://www.republika.co.id/berita/nasional/hukum/15/07/18/nrn8xi-ini-8-sikap-aliansi-alim-ulama-indonesia-soal-pembakaran-masjid

Yeah, the FPI, the Islam Defenders Front, a paragon of pluralism, ever-ready to promote peace and goodwill, a champion of tolerance par excellence…like HELL!

 Check out just a handful of our coverage.

Jakarta Ethnic Cleansing? Murder Threat No Big Deal? 

Twenty Officers Injured – So Jakarta Cops ‘Negotiate’ With islamist Thug Gang?

• IslamoNazi Gauleiter – “Women Already Have Limitations, Let Alone Non-Muslims!” 

  IslamoNazi Slams Jew-Collaborating Fascists Who Say ‘Good Morning!’ 

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•  Sobri Lubis

‘Bunuh, bunuh, bunuh,’ – ‘kill, kill, kill!’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7RLCXNdKF4 –

–And the worst, arguably, of Muchsin’s comrades, still holding high FPI office, has to be Sobri Lubis, the savage who urged a mindless mob to go forth and murder members of the peaceful Ahmadi minority.

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So what possesses high-rankers of the NU and Muhammadiyah to sit down with the likes of a leader of an IslamoNazi thug gang?.

 By doing so they make an instant mockery of whatever decent cause may be concerned. They also, of course, tarnish the reputation of their own outfits. And if they somehow seriously regard themselves as ‘scholars,’ and treat a gang-leader as a ‘scholar,’ what does that tell us about their own ‘scholastic’ qualifications?

The proper thing to do, if you are up on a platform for something you believe is a worthy issue, and you find somebody unworthy is on that platform too, is either to find an alternative venue free from that taint, or to simply throw the blighter off.

They did neither. 

I’ll get back to the ultimatum later tonight.

 

International Yoga Day – In Jakarta, Be Careful What You Chant!

It has never occurred to me to attempt anything remotely connected to yoga, total relaxation with the benevolent assistance of Mr. Jim Beam or Mr. Johnny Walker having much more appeal.

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• But I wish them well, those flexible folk who do amazing things with their limbs, whilst emitting strange  ‘om, om, om‘-like noises….
• OM CHANTING – Yoga to relax the body and mind – YouTube  – Om is the name of God. One must start their yoga practices by chanting this mantra.
• ….and note their big day is today!

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But any yoga fans here in Indonesia should beware! The self-styled ‘scholars’ of the MUI could be down on you like a tunnabrix!

…the MUI issued a fatwa related to yoga.

Secretary of the MUI Fatwa Commission,  Asrorun Niam,  conveyed the relevant decision… 

1.  yoga with rituals of other religions, then for Muslims it’s forbidden.

2.  yoga containing spiritual meditation and mantras, connected to other creeds, is haram, as a preventive measure (sadd al-dzari’ah).

3.  yoga breathing exercises, purely for the sake of health. are permissible.

So puff-puff-puff is okay, but none of this ‘om-0m-om‘ stuff, right?

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Even if you simply find it relaxing, no idea of its ‘divine’ connotations ( I didn’t till I looked it up last night!) and even if the rhythm just helps you keep time with your wriggling… 

No chanting!

Why make such a fuss about such a trivial matter?

I was in the Hypermart, shopping for cat-food, the other day, and, it being Ramadan, the muzak was very Islamic, including a rather melodious song, from one of those ‘morally uplifting’ soaps we had on tv a few years ago.

I found myself humming along with it –  no plans to become an ‘apostate’ and join Asrorun’s lot, just liked the sound.

Which I imagine is what the yoga people do, if they do, when bending arms and legs in all directions.

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•   Asrorun in Fatwa mode! 

Fanatic Stirs JIS Storm – MUI’s Asrorun Demands Sectarian Schooling! 

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When Asrorun, who BTW is a REAL piece of work (check our link above) handed down these diktats, last year, he got a sharp response from a gorgeous sinetron star here, named Kiki Amalia, who sounds like a big yoga fan. 

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 Kiki

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“I do not understand, I’ve just been following yoga over the years. I never do spells…I do it for slimming!”   http://www.solopos.com/2014/12/25/yoga-haram-mui-keluarkan-fatwa-haram-yoga-bermantra-562438

Don’t really want her too slim, but I’m sure she wasn’t the only one bemused by the bleating of the ‘scholars,’ who are forever finding new things to whine about, whilst refraining from condemnation of real evils.

They see nothing wrong with female circumcision, but loathe religious liberty for Muslims who dissent from their dogmatic version of theology. 

They want to ban women from travelling on ojeks (motorcycle taxis) while they harbour at their senior levels one of the most bloodthirsty extremists in the archipelago, who wanted a harmless local atheist put to death for his comments critical of religion.… a five-year jail term would not suffice. “He deserves the death penalty, even if he decides to repent. What he has done cannot be tolerated…”  http://directaction.org.au/issue38/indonesian_faces_jail_for_saying_god_does_not_exist_on_facebook_0—

And another top MUI man, Amidhan is on record telling us not to complain if we’re attacked by bone-headed bigots during Ramadan. Islamist ‘Scholars’ – “Don’t Complain if You’re Attacked!” 

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But I do wonder if at least part of their objection to yoga is that a lot of the women who enjoy the exercise do look good. Like Kiki, above, and this unknown beauty…

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And women looking attractive is absolute ANATHEMA to the MUI.

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The Deputy Secretary General, Indonesian Ulema Council ( MUI ) Welya Safitri, added that the Aceh model is a good example…most importantly, wearing the hijab must meet three conditions. That it’s Shariah compliant, conceals the genitals and shows no curves.

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‘Scholars’ on Scarfs – ‘Must Be Shariah-Compliant, Hide Genitals, Show No Curves!’ 

NO CURVES?

….om-om-om!

‘Creeping Shariah,’ Warns Prof. Muhammed, As Jakarta Dims!

‘Creeping shariah!’ 

That’s how an Indonesian Professor of Islamic Studies, named Muhammed Ali, describes the demented decree against beer sales in minimarts, which we have railed about before.

Bali Beer Ban Looms – Why Pander to Intolerance? 

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Luckily for the Prof, he teaches at the University of California. Otherwise he might be at risk of unwelcome attention from the IslamoNazi thug gangs. The same sectarian louts we’ve shown you before but show you again today.

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• The same bigot hoodlums whose violence taints both the creed they claim to represent and the reputation of this otherwise lovely country. Their hooligan antics were mentioned by one of Jakarta’s senior Islamic ‘scholars,’ Amidhan, when he said –

Islamist ‘Scholars’ – “Don’t Complain if You’re Attacked!” 

 Amidhan

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Nor is Amidhan the only one of his kind who thinks like that.

Islamist ‘Scholars’ Disown Thuggery – But We Gotta Behave! 

Thanks be the real Muslim scholar-man in California takes a more perceptive view of what’s going on. 

“This is creeping shariah, slow but steady, using legal and constitutional means,” said Ali. 

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• The Jakarta Globe blames President Jokowi, since this intolerant diktat runs counter to the pro-business messages he presented while campaigning for office last year.

But it’s not only intolerant!

It’s heedless of its consequences, driving otherwise law-abiding people to seek out more accessible, and cheaper, alternatives, the hooch that kills, sold in back-street dives. The Jakarta Globe quotes Diageo chief executive Ivan Menezes – “There is also the risk of illicit alcohol growing again, and that is in nobody’s interest.”

But who’s concerned in the corridors of power?

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Rachmat Gobel

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The above very well-fed man is the Minister who issued the diktat, and it sounds like he has a low opinion of us foreigners –   “Tourism is not a problem. Do we want to protect Indonesian citizens or tourists?”

A rational government would wish to protect both, I’d have thought.

Anyway, Gobel evidently has not much interest in giving his fellow-citizens the right to shop for a cold beer on a hot day! Like today, tonight even, and I have just finished the second bottle whilst relaxing at home – no need to go out, after two seriously enjoyable parties during the week! 

We can still go shopping for our ale, to the big hypermarkets, but that can be a lengthy trek. It’s much easier to walk five mins to Indomaret or Alfamart.

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 Mal Ciputra aka Citraland

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Curiously, I was in Mal Ciputra earlier today, searching vigorously in the Hero store for a couple of bottles to enjoy with my tv viewing tonight. It used to be found beside the soft drinks and similar stuff, but no longer.

I had to ask an assistant. She pointed to the area behind the cashier in the corner, and there was the beer, segregated beside the cigarettes, a sanctum of sin. 

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Thus the bright, lively city of Jakarta grows dimmer.

Hard to understand why the government wants to make a cheerful nation gloomy, but I guess there are electoral debts owed.

However, there are grounds for optimism, albeit in unsatisfactory ways, according to an English academic, who of course doesn’t live here in Indonesia, and, while aware of the vigilante terrorism, perhaps underestimates its pervasive nature. He reckons that old-fashioned sloppy enforcement and corruption will see us through. 

“This is purely the politics of symbols,” he said.

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• But in most cases, the poor little minimarts have already stopped selling. I tried three minimarts along Fatmawati a month or more ago, to get a carry-out for a party – no joy!
• Scared of raids by rabids?
• The white-shirt boot-boys are rarely arrested by the cops – inexplicably, after around twenty officers were injured in an IslamoNazi riot in downtown Jakarta late last year – and there are a lot of those white-shirt rats crawling around the city gutters.  .

Those of us who had hoped SBY’s departure from the State Palace and the inauguration of Jokowi would mean an end to IslamoNazi intimidation are undergoing an agonising reappraisal of our optimism.

http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/business/beer-today-gone-tomorrow-indonesia-targets-sales-ale/