ISIS is our common enemy. Indonesia is a peaceful country ..."
Jambi (ANTARA News) - The radical Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group is a common enemy because of its violent conduct, which is not in accordance with Islamic teachings, according to Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar.

"ISIS is our common enemy. Indonesia is a peaceful country, and ISIS should not create chaos," Nasaruddin said in the sidelines of the 5th national Quran reading competition here on Wednesday.

He emphasized that Indonesia was the example of religious tolerance and harmony for other Islamic countries around the world, and therefore, ISIS had no right to create chaos and disorder in this country.

Head of the National Counter-terrorism Agency (BNPT) inspector general Ansyaad Mbai (Retd) reported on Monday in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, that ISIS had the potential to extend its terrorist base at certain areas in Indonesia.

"None of the nations, religions, or communities requires the presence of ISIS," Ansyaad Mbai noted.

The BNPT has urged community organizations, scholars, religious leaders, including universities, to prevent the spread of radical ideology in Indonesia.

"The BNPT has established partnership with several universities, especially with Islamic universities in Indonesia," he affirmed.

ISIS actions have drawn accusations from countries in the Middle East, and even some Indonesians have accused certain countries.

In fact, ISIS came into existence after acquiring weapons and controlling oil fields to capitalize on their movements.

"Iraq has accused Arab countries of supporting the ISIS, while others have accused the west. It is just an assumption without a strong foundation," Ansyaad pointed out.

Southeast Sulawesi Police chief Brigadier General Arkian Lubis claimed that the police have been working hard to detect the presence of individuals who are detrimental to the comfort and safety of the public.

"It is fair that ISIS targets police officers because they block the organizations mission," he remarked.

The Southeast Sulawesi police have continued to cooperate with every element in the community to maintain safety and security.

Earlier, Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin noted that Islamic boarding schools, locally known as "pesantren" or "pondok pesantren", do not teach radical ideologies such as that followed by ISIS.

"It is not possible for radicalism to be taught in pesantren. If any educational institution has been teaching radicalism in the name of pesantren, it is definitely not pesantren," the minister emphasized here on Saturday.
(Uu.O001/INE/KR-BSR/B003)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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