Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – The government must intervene to uphold the law if Shia and Sunni Muslims come into conflict over their irreconcilable teachings, a forum has concluded.
Shiites in attendance, however, were disappointed with the theological and historical focus of the forum, which was organized by the nation's second-largest Sunni Muslim organization, Muhammadiyah.
"This kind of dialogue only satisfies religious elitists, such as clerics or the scholars." Jalaludin Rahmat, chairman of the consultative council of the Indonesian Ahlul Bait Association (IJABI), a Shia organization, said after the dialogue in Jakarta on Tuesday.
"We have had had similar dialogues that were organized nationally and internationally. These dialogues will not help ease tensions among followers of both sects, unless the government upholds the law," Jalaluddin said.
"The government should also amend or revoke any laws discriminating against minority groups in a show of its commitment to guarantee citizens' rights to religious freedom," Jalaludin said. Citing an example, Jalaludin said that the 1965 Blasphemy Law appears to have been used by majority Muslims to determine which groups are heretical.
"Therefore, we suggest that the government revoke this law as it has been abused to legitimately discriminate against minority groups such as us," Jalaludin said.
Aside from Jalaludin, the dialogue was also attended by Husein Shahab from the Shia organization Ahlul Bait Indonesia (ABI); Fahmi Salim, from the Jakarta chapter of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and who is also an executive of Muhammadiyah; and Imam Addaruqutni from Muhammadiyah's youth group.
Husein said that he respected Sunnis who attempted to convert Shiites. However, he encouraged the Sunnis to follow the existing laws in carrying out their mission.
"I appreciate missionaries from the Sunni community who are trying to convert the Shiites to Islamic teachings. But, please do that according to the norms," he said.
He emphasized that both Sunni and Shia shared a similar core of teachings, and thus the followers had no reasons to deny each other's existence in this country.
"We share the same core teachings of Islam. So don't let our differences in understanding several minor elements of the faith tear us apart. Moreover, we have been here for years; therefore, we must learn to accept each other as we will remain here. This is our country as well," Husein said.
Meanwhile, Fahmi of the MUI said that Sunnis also respected differences in the way both communities understood the teaching of Islam. However, he demanded the Shiites not provoke them by highlighting such differences in public.
"We have previously agreed to not promote each other's religious understanding wherever the other is majority. The Shia community must stick to this otherwise conflicts will be inevitable," he said.
He added that different theological teachings between the sects would not be easily resolved through a dialogue, and thus the government's presence amid conflicts would be crucial.
"It's really difficult to reach a consensus in faith through a dialogue, you know, especially when the participants dearly hold onto their principles. Therefore, the government must take the control when conflicts occur. Meanwhile, religious figures must educate their followers to control themselves and not be provoked by religious sentiment," he said.