"ISIS leader Abu Bakar Al-Baghdadi was once detained by the United States but he was considered not dangerous. After his release it is not impossible for him to have been asked to play important roles in the Middle East," Joko Susilo, who is Indonesia Ambassador to Switzerland from 2009 to 2014, said here, Monday.
If it is true that Al-Bagdhadi has been requested to play important roles in the Middle East, then it is not impossible for the ISIS movement to have been receiving financial support (from the West).
"In a press conference many parties were surprised to see the Rolex wrist watch used by Al-Baghdadi, which, if converted into the rupiah currency, is valued at Rp1.5 billion. If it is true that he is propagating the Islamic sharia, how could a leader wallow in such wealth?" the ambassador asked.
Therefore, the presence of the ISIS movement is not a purely Islamic movement to uphold the sharia, but more likely it is for a temporary and pragmatic interest, a convinced Joko Susilo said.
"We Indonesians should not be cheated by people using religious symbols as a camouflage," the ambassador said.
The teachings and goals of the ISIS are against the Islamic sharia, as it uses violence to achieve its cause, Indonesia Ulemas Council (MUI) Deputy Chairman, Maruf Amin, said earlier.
"ISIS ideology is not acceptable. In its effort to build an Islamic state, ISIS coerces and commits violence. Indonesia has a democratic commitment and does not resort to violence," Maruf said on Thursday last.
MUI has firmly stated that the ISIS is banned as it has been involved in coercive actions, violence, murder of innocent people, destruction of places considered sacred by Muslims, and undermining the nation state, he said.
"Such actions have been condemned by Indonesia, so it is not allowed (based on the sharia) to support the ISIS. However, it is not necessary for MUI to issue a haram fatwa (prohibition advice) because it is already clear that supporting ISIS is haram (not allowed). Something that is already clear need not be issued a fatwa," he said.
MUI Chairman, Din Syamsuddin, had earlier appealed to Indonesian Muslims to avoid and not be provoked by the radical teachings of the ISIS.
"We must increase our awareness and call upon all Islamic bodies to be more alert so as not to be used by the radical group and prevent the infiltration of ISIS ideology," Din Syamsuddin said here, Thursday.
The council has also affirmed their stance that ISIS is a radical movement using the name of Islam in Iraq and Syria but not upholding the Islamic teachings of "rahmatan lilalamin" or blessings to the universe.
"Islamic organizations and boarding schools in Indonesia have been upholding the path of Islam "rahmatan lilalamin" or blessings to the universe, and also God willing, and thank God, the majority of Muslims are not affected by such notions," said Din.
The ISIS Islamic propaganda must be anticipated and condemned, as Indonesia has a very large population of Muslims.
Various Islamic mass organizations and institutions in Indonesia have already rejected the existence of ISIS movements, which are considered potentially divisive to the unity of Muslims and could destabilize the Republic of Indonesia, which upholds the Pancasila ideology.
These Islamic organizations also support fasting and precise and decisive government steps to ban ISIS in Indonesia, and encourage law enforcement in accordance with the applicable regulations.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
