SBY endorses RI-UK group's proposals on Islam's issues

Jakarta, NU Online
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has endorsed recommendations by the Indonesia-UK Islamic Advisory Group to counter religious extremism and promote Islam as a religion of peace.

Presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said that during a meeting with members of the group, Yudhoyono said the recommendations, if implemented, would contribute to presenting Islam as a peace-loving, moderate religion.<>

"The President supports all recommendations and proposed activities of this group," Dino told a press conference after the meeting.

Also present at the meeting were Religious Affairs Minister Maftuh Basyuni, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda and UK Ambassador to Indonesia Charles Humphrey.

As reported by The Jakarta Post, members of the group met with Yudhoyono on Friday to present the final recommendations drafted at a conference in London in early February.

The draft recommendations were submitted to UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett and the Indonesian foreign minister who was in London to attend the inaugural UK-Indonesian Partnership Forum.

Key among the recommendations are exchange programs to promote the professional development of mosque imams and religious scholars; the translation and distribution of selected Indonesian literature to the UK to correct misunderstood terms such as jihad, democracy and modernity; and youth leadership exchange programs between UK and Indonesian organizations.

The group's formation was based on an agreement between Yudhoyono and Prime Minister Tony Blair signed during the latter's visit to Jakarta in March last year.

The group's 14 members were personally selected by both governments.

It is clear, however, that the implementation of the recommendations will be subject to political processes in the two countries.

Prominent Indonesian Muslim scholar Azyumardi Azra co-chairs the group along with cleric Musharaf Hussain, director of the Karimia Institute in the UK.

Hussain said the group had played an important role in bridging the gap between Indonesians and Britons and would enable the two peoples to work together to build an image of Islam as a religion of peace.

Azyumardi said the group had planned numerous activities to support its recommendations, including an exhibition of Indonesian culture in the UK and an annual conference.

Among the group's Indonesian members are Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin; National Awakening Party Secretary General Yenny Zanuba Arifah Chafsoh; Director General for Islam and Haj Affairs at the Religious Affairs Ministry Nazaruddin Umar; Muslim scholar and chairwoman of the Association of Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals Marwah Daud Ibrahim; and Abdul Mufti, a lecturer at the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University.

In addition to Hussain, there are six British Muslim public figures in the group from a range of professional backgrounds. They are chartered accountant Asim Siddiqui; educational director at the Ebrahim Community College, Sheikh Muhammad Bilal Abdallah; deputy director of the Muslim College in London, Moulana Shahid Raza; Muslim activist for women Sabira Lakha, Mishal Husain of the BBC and singer Yusuf Islam.

Hard-line Islamic organizations blamed for a string of terror attacks in the UK are not represented in the group. (dar)