Indonesia's top Islamic authority called Tuesday on all Muslims to wage a jihad (holy war) if the US and its allies attack Afghanistan.
The call was made in a statement by the Indonesian Council of Ulemas, read out by its secretary-general Dien Syamsuddin at a press conference.
The council said it "calls on all Muslims of the world to unite and mobilize their forces to fight in the path of Allah should the aggression of the United States and its allies against Afghanistan and the Islamic world take place."
The council, which represents the mainstream Muslim community in Indonesia, also urged Muslim countries not to fall under the "influence of subjective US interests."
Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim-populated country with more than 80 percent of its 210 million people following Islam.
The council urged the Indonesian government not to support any US retaliation for the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington.
"We call on the government of the Republic of Indonesia not to fall to US persuasions to support plans for the said aggression in all forms, political or moral, including by not allowing Indonesian territory to be passed by the US armada or fighter planes," it said.
The ulema council also strongly condemned the attacks on New York's World Trade Center and the Pentagon in Washington, describing them as a "criminal act."
"[The attacks] are a violation of Islamic teachings which emphasize love, humanitarianism and peace," the council said. "We offer condolences to the families of the victims and pray for their patience and strength in the face of this disaster."
But it said any attack against Afghanistan "could be viewed as reflecting hostility and hatred against Islam and Muslims."
"We urge the government of the United States to reflect and cease practicing double standards and injustices," said the statement, signed by 40 Islamic organizations.
The council also urged Muslims not to harass Americans or other westerners in Indonesia, saying such acts run counter to Islamic tenets.
Militant groups have threatened forcibly to expel Americans and raid US facilities if the US attacks Afghanistan.
The ulema council deplored attacks on Muslims and vandalism of mosques in Britain, the US and Australia and urged those governments to take action against the perpetrators.
The state-funded council, which groups Muslim scholars or ulemas, has the authority to issue fatwas, or religious edicts -- although Tuesday's statement is not a fatwa.
President Megawati Sukarnoputri, currently on a visit to the United States, has condemned what she called the "brutal and indiscriminate" attacks and said her country would join the global battle against terrorism -- JAKARTA (AFP)
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
