Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Vice President Jusuf Kalla has asked the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) to revive a counter-terrorism team to curb radicalism in the country.
"We will take joint steps to conduct de-radicalization," MUI Chairman Maruf Amin said after a meeting with Jusuf Kalla at the Vice Presidential Office here on Tuesday.
The MUI executive board met with the vice president to report the results on its national meeting and national working meeting.
Maruf said the MUI had earlier issued a fatwa (edict) serving as a foundation for the creation of a counter-terrorism team.
"We have provided education to Islamic boarding schools and elsewhere. But after the counter-terrorism body had been set up, we were no longer involved institutionally," he said.
Among the efforts made by the MUI to curb radicalism are publishing books, holding discussions on the understanding of religion, and overseeing the spreading of religious ideas.
"Mr Vice President said it is difficult (to curb radicalism) by just talking, because they are not afraid of being sentenced to jail or even dying. So the only way we can do this is by changing their thoughts. We can do this only through religious approaches and dialogs," he said.
The MUI also agreed with the planned revision of the counter-terrorism law to curb radicalism, he said.
"As long as the counter-terrorism law is more directed towards preventing or anticipating (terrorism), I think we agree to it. But we do not agree to the shooting of suspected terrorists. (The police) must first ensure this," he said.
Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan earlier raised a discussion about a revision of the counter-terrorism law.
The country needs a new policy that places an emphasis on preventive efforts, he said.
He added that the revision of the counter-terrorism law must be enacted as soon as possible, so as not to give an impression that Indonesia is a "fire fighter". (WDY)
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Bali 2016
"We will take joint steps to conduct de-radicalization," MUI Chairman Maruf Amin said after a meeting with Jusuf Kalla at the Vice Presidential Office here on Tuesday.
The MUI executive board met with the vice president to report the results on its national meeting and national working meeting.
Maruf said the MUI had earlier issued a fatwa (edict) serving as a foundation for the creation of a counter-terrorism team.
"We have provided education to Islamic boarding schools and elsewhere. But after the counter-terrorism body had been set up, we were no longer involved institutionally," he said.
Among the efforts made by the MUI to curb radicalism are publishing books, holding discussions on the understanding of religion, and overseeing the spreading of religious ideas.
"Mr Vice President said it is difficult (to curb radicalism) by just talking, because they are not afraid of being sentenced to jail or even dying. So the only way we can do this is by changing their thoughts. We can do this only through religious approaches and dialogs," he said.
The MUI also agreed with the planned revision of the counter-terrorism law to curb radicalism, he said.
"As long as the counter-terrorism law is more directed towards preventing or anticipating (terrorism), I think we agree to it. But we do not agree to the shooting of suspected terrorists. (The police) must first ensure this," he said.
Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan earlier raised a discussion about a revision of the counter-terrorism law.
The country needs a new policy that places an emphasis on preventive efforts, he said.
He added that the revision of the counter-terrorism law must be enacted as soon as possible, so as not to give an impression that Indonesia is a "fire fighter". (WDY)
Editor : I Gusti Bagus Widyantara
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Bali 2016