Indra Harsaputra, Ponorogo – The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) on Friday proscribed any movements, either by individuals, groups of people, institutions or organizations, that threaten national unity.
The decree was one of several decisions taken during a meeting of ulema from across the country at the Gontor Muslim boardinghouse in Ponorogo, East Java.
This was the second meeting of its kind, held to address different problems facing the country. The first such meeting took place in Jakarta in 2003, during which the ulema proscribed terrorism and bank interest rates.
"The unity of Indonesia is final. To those intending to separate from the country, Muslims have to enlighten them that such action is forbidden (by Islamic law)," said Ma'ruf Amin, chairman of MUI's fatwa commission.
Ma'ruf said that when some parties in Madura expressed their intention to establish a separate province under the name Serambi Medinnah, they had not violated the decree because they were still acting within the confines of the unitary state.
The Madura chapter of the MUI declared earlier this month its intention to establish Serambi Medinnah, which literally means Medina's veranda.
Ma'ruf said the MUI had no desire to make Islam the sole religion of Indonesia, and would continue to protect the right of non-Muslims to practice their religions.
"We agreed with all ulema to uphold the concept of the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia, with not only Islam, which should be accommodated, but also other religions, with all the rights and obligations," he said.
Ma'ruf reiterated the MUI would protect the rights of all nonindigenous people and non-Muslims. He said the organization was in the process of bringing together elements of all the country's Islamic groups, including the largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, Muhammadiyah and the Islam Defenders Front, and reaching an agreement on tolerance.
"I guarantee they will not be involved in any acts of violence. They will be calmer and appreciate tolerance without violence," he said.
If nonindigenous people are discriminated against, like in the issuance of citizenship cards, the MUI will ask the government to address the problem. "The citizenship issue has nothing to do with religion, but the bureaucracy," he said.
The MUI again urged the government to ratify the bill on pornography, as well as an antidiscrimination bill.
The ulemas also underlined the importance of encouraging every region to have local regulations banning prostitution, the consumption of alcohol and gambling, like those already implemented in Tangerang and Cilegon in Banten, Cianjur in West Java and Bulukumba in South Sulawesi.
Other decrees issued during the meeting included one banning demonstrators from harming themselves. Protesting by sewing your mouth shut is forbidden by religion because it is against human nature, Ma'ruf said.