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Gus Dur: Call for anti-violence Islam should always be voiced

NU Online  ·  Ahad, 26 Juli 2009 | 22:28 WIB

Jakarta, NU Online
Former President KH Abdurrahman Wahid, familiarly known as Gus Dur, said over the weekend that anti-violence religions should always be voiced, adding that so far there had been various forms of violence perpetrated in the name of Islam.

Gus Dur was of the opinion that there had still been Muslim circles misunderstanding about religious teachings so that they consider that the terrorism acts are part of Islam.<>

Gus Dur reiterated that Islam was again opposed to any violent act. "Yes it is very clear that Islam is anti-violence," Gus Dur said, adding that "what makes us able to enter paradise or go to hell is our own deeds."

Gus Dur disagreed if the most recent twin bombings in Jakarta had to do with Muslim scholars (ulema).

As for Gus Dur, Indonesia was too open country. As a consequence, he said, it was very easy for those perpetrators to do various violent acts. (rif)