Kang Said: NU against radicalism and extremism

Jakarta, NU Online
General Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the Indonesia's largest Muslim organization, KH Said Aqil Siradj, popularly known as Kang Said, said that NU and other moderate Muslim organizations in the country had drawn the line against radical groups, like the Islamic State (IS) movement.<>

“NU’s stance is that we are against radicalism and extremism. [For NU] those are not the form of a fight [for Islam]. Let there be no more [IS and radicalism] supporters,” Said Aqil said after the meeting with Jokowi recently.

As reported by NU Online, In early December, some NU ulema agreed to engage in dialogues with radical groups to curb terrorism in the country, following a discussion with the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT), the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry at an Islamic boarding school in Depok, West Java.

In the forum, member of the Lawmaking Body of NU, KH Hasyim Muzadi called on the importance of ulema (Muslim scholars) and clerics (kiai) at all levels to serve as a "shield" against terrorism.

"Religious leaders have an important role," Hasyim continued. "We are the shield to prevent more recruitment and also to continue to spread the word of peace as Islam teaches us," he said at a meeting held at the Al Hikam Islamic Boarding School in Depok recently.

He said that  all Muslims were harmed by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Meanwhile  BNPT Chief Saud Usman Nasution present at the forum said the purpose of the meeting was to map the roots of terrorism.

"We have academics and also former terrorists participating in this event," he said, referring to author Solahudin and former Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) commander Nassir Abbas . "We hope from them we can learn the best ways to fight terrorism including the increasing number of ISIS followers," Saud told reporters.

Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq