Muhammad Nafik, Jakarta – Hard-line Muslim leader Abu Bakar Ba'asyir upped his campaign for Islamic law when he marched with dozens of his followers to the presidential office on Feb. 22.

The rally followed his recent tour of several parts of Indonesia to promote sharia after having completed his 30-month jail term in June 2006 for his role in the 2002 Bali bombings.

On leaving the prison for his hometown of Surakarta, Central Java, Ba'asyir received a hero's welcome from hard-liners with his Indonesian Mujahidin Council (MMI), the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) and Hizbut Tahrir. An equally warm reception greeted him when he made his recent tour.

However, the cleric met resistance in some areas, including on the industrial island of Batam, which abuts Singapore, when he went there to deliver his sermons.

Ba'asyir had received his 30 month jail term for blessing the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people, including 88 Australian holidaymakers. Five months after his release however, the Supreme Court accepted his case review plea and acquitted him of all terror charges linked to the Bali blasts. The court also ordered the government to rehabilitate his tarnished image.

At the Feb. 22 rally, Ba'asyir demanded a meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, in order to instruct him to enforce sharia on the country. The president, according to his spokesman Andi Mallarangeng, could not receive the 68-year old cleric, citing his busy agenda and the standard procedure of giving prior notification.

Yudhoyono's decision to shun Ba'asyir deserves applause as it illustrates the government's rejection of Islamic radicalism and extremism. If he had met with Ba'asyir, it would be deemed that Yudhoyono was awarding Ba'asyir with state honor and undermining religious moderation, pluralism and tolerance. This would hurt Muslim moderates.

Receiving Ba'asyir and his followers at the State Palace would also cast doubt amongst Western nations on Indonesia's commitment to the fight against conservatism, radicalism and terrorism.

Indonesia has come under fire from the United States and Australia, among others, for failing to keep Ba'asyir – who is listed as a terrorist by the United Nations for his alleged link to Jamaah Islamiyah – imprisoned. The world body has also ordered the freezing of all Ba'asyir's assets and the imposition of an overseas travel ban against him. Insp. Gen. Ansjaad Mbai, who heads the anti-terror desk at the chief security minister's office, said last June that Indonesia would carry out the UN's wishes.

Former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid set an example for getting tough with religious extremism. In April 2000, he expelled the leader of hard-line Islamic group Laskar Jihad, Ja'far Umar Thalib, from the State Palace for "impolite behavior". Group members had rallied outside the palace to oppose Gus Dur's plan to lift the ban on communism.

Months before his ouster from power in July 2001, Gus Dur also issued an order to revoke sharia-oriented ordinances. The order, however, fell into deaf ears. He blamed this inaction on the Supreme Court.

Despite the credit due to him for his move to deny Ba'asyir state honor, Yudhoyono remains reluctant to take action against the sharia-inspired ordinances currently implemented in dozens of regions across the country.

Many view the enactment of the Islamist ordinances as a victory for conservative and radical elements in a nation that mostly embraces a more moderate brand of Islam. Not only the Islamic-based parties, but also major secular political groups support the ordinances to appease Muslim voters and solicit their support in elections.

The government has no excuse not to scrap the Islamist ordinances, which only create or increase discrimination in public life. The enforcement of sharia leads to classifying non-Muslims as second class citizens, which is against the Constitution.

Strong support from Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah – the country's two largest Muslim organizations, who are known for their moderation – is badly needed to encourage the government to immediately act against the bylaws. The two Islamic mainstream groups agreed in November last year to disseminate the teaching of "true jihad" to fight terrorism and extremism, but the deal has not been translated into any concrete programs.

The two Islamic organizations also need to take the lead in making the voice of moderation heard in all forums – including street rallies if necessary. This move will counter the aggressive and massive campaigns of hard-liners, including Ba'asyir.

The enactment of sharia-based ordinances in regions would develop religious conservatism in the country, at the expense of the moderate and modern Islamic movement to build civil society that promotes pluralism and tolerance.