US asks NU the status of rajam practiced in Aceh

Jakarta, NU Online
The US government through its ambassador in Indonesia, Ted Osius during his Tuesday visit to the headquarters of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), asked general chairman of PBNU KH Hasyim Muzadi about qanun jinayat (material crime law in Islam ) which legalizes rajam (stoning to death) for married person (male-female) who commits illegal sexual intercourse (zina).

Responding to this question, Masyim explained that Islamic laws (syaria) were introduced as the obligation of individual while as a citizen, he or she should be abide by the existing rules and regulations.<>

"Syaria is for individual not for the state. NU considers what is the important thing is its substance rather than its text," Hasyim said, giving another example that we needed no Islamic anti-corruption laws because the corruption is apposed to Islamic values.

Ted graduating from the American University in Cairo admitted that NU was the largest Muslim organization in the world whose values of moderation, greatly appreciating tolerance and pluralism.

"This is what I want to learn from NU," Ted said.

In the meantime, Ted expected PBNU to remain defending the image of Indonesia as the moderate Islamic country for considering that recently there have been acts leading to what called as Islam funtamentalism, like violations of the law for women who wear jeans in Aceh.

Misunderstanding Islam

Ted explained that Islam was religion capable of keeping up with any development and even growing rapidly in US. Unfortunately, he said, the existence of Islam had still been misunderstood including by mass media.

During his visit to the PBNU headquarters, Ted also expressed his willingness to soon go visiting Islamic boarding schools of NU.

Hasyim further explained that the manifestation of moderation of NU could be seen, saying that there was no one of some 10.000 pesantren affiliated with NU which involved in any terrorism act.

"Terrorism is not, once again, the genuine character of Indonesia, but it comes from outside," he said.

While Iqbal Sullam accompanying Hasyim in his meeting with the Indonesia's US envoy explained that in regard with whipping which has also been protested by many circles was not only practiced in Aceh but also in Singapore which can be categorized as one of developed countries. (mkf)