Form Independent Panel To Judge Content Of Blocked Websites: Legislator

Jakarta (Antara Bali) -- Chairman of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives (DPR) Saleh Partaonan Daulay has suggested the establishment of an independent panel to judge whether certain websites promoted radical ideology in Indonesia.

"When they find something wrong (on a website), they should first correct it. Only if it seems dangerous should they recommend blocking the website," Daulay said in a statement on Wednesday.

Members of the panel could be chosen from the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI), the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Muhammadiyah, Persis and from other moderate Islamic organizations, the legislator, who represents the National Mandate Party (PAN), stated.

He believes that representatives of moderate Islamic organizations could objectively judge and make recommendations, so the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) and the Communication and Informatics Ministry do not make unilateral judgments.  

"The authority to interpret teachings of a certain religion appropriately is in the hands of prominent religious figures. Officials of the BNPT and the Communication and Informatics Ministry should sit together with prominent Islamic figures from various mass organizations (to discuss the alleged radical content of certain online media)," Daulay emphasized.

He added that the government should have informed operators of the websites before blocking them. Furthermore, the politician also believes that the government should have prioritized the blocking of websites that deliberately promote interfaith hatred.

Daulay has urged Indonesian Muslims to not overreact to the blocking of the websites by the government, and has advised them to take legal action if they disagree with the measure.  

Since March 29, the ministry has blocked 19 websites based on reports from the BNPT that they spread radical ideology.  

After receiving suggestions from the National Police, the BNPT, in its letter number 149/K.BNPT/3/2015, requested for the 19 websites to be blocked, stating that they promoted radical ideology and sympathizers of radicalism.

The 19 Islamic websites were arrahmah.com, voa- islam.com, ghur4ba.blogspot.com, panjimas.com, thoriquna.com, dakwatuna.com, kafilahmujahid.com, an-najah.net, muslimdaily.net, hidayatullah.com, salam-online.com, aqlislamiccenter.com, kiblat.net, dakwahmedia.com, muqawamah.com, lasdipo.com, gemaislam.com, eramuslim.com, and daulahislam.com. (WDY)