News

NU take sympathetic stand against 'sinful places'

NU Online  ·  Selasa, 2 Agustus 2011 | 12:49 WIB

Surabaya, NU Online
Instead of being associated by worship only, Ramadhan is also related to sweeping actions toward entertainment places or hotels in big cities. Usually, those who are most of the time considered as actors of the sweeping actions are members of so-called as the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) whereas the root of the problem remains complex and obscure.

Chairman of lawmaking body of the East Java's Nahdlatul Ulama, KH Miftachul Akhyar, said various sinful acts and disobedience in the country have been systematically organized. Those actors have always come to lead any opinion race.

Therefore, in conducting amar makruf (enjoining all that Islam orders) and nahi munkar (forbidding all that Islam has forbidden), there should be brilliant steps.

"Because sometimes they deliberately provoke a problem,  when the problem fuels anger, various opinion deflected to demonize Islam. As if Islam is familiar with the world of violence," Akhyar said.

"That is why, NU also deals with the amar makruf and nahi munkar, but by taking into account of any possible impact" he said.

Formerly, general chairman of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) KH Said Aqil Siradj called on mass organizations not to conduct sweeps on entertainment centers and other businesses during the Ramadhan fasting month.

"Mass organizations must not do such sweeps because it is the sole authority of the law-enforcing agencies," the general chairman of the country`s biggest Islamic organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Said Aqil Siroj, said here on Thursday (28/7).

He said it was not appropriate for mass organizations to take over the authority and duties of the law enforcement agencies in maintaining public order.

Said Aqil said he feared there would be anarchy if mass organizations conducted such sweeps.

"Although their aim is good but if it is done not based upon goodwill it will become something bad," he was quoted by Antara news agency as saying..

Several regions in the country have imposed a ban for entertainment centers to operate during the fasting month.

The government of the capital city Jakarta has also imposed the ban valid from July 31 to September 2, 2011.

Exceptions are given to live music, karaoke and billiard salons but their operations are also limited from 8.30pm to 1.30am.

To ensure that the regulation is heeded the Jakarta tourism service has set up a team consisting of police officers to monitor its implementation.

Said Aqil meanwhile admitted that he had appealed to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono through the ministries of religious affairs and home affairs to tighten the requirements for the registration of new mass organizations.

He said he had conveyed the request when he met with the President on July 25 together with the leaders of 12 other Islamic organizations.

"Actually the more mass organizations there are, the better in view of brotherhood and solidarity development. But care must be taken that they do not run out of control. Extremist organizations must be constantly monitored," he said. (mkf)