Indonesian Muslim Clerics Back Crackdown On Hardliners
Rampaging zealots attacking amusement centers and nightclubs betray a fundamental principle of Islam: "There is no compulsion in religion" Quran 2:256
Kazi Mahmood, December 2000

JAKARTA - The month of Ramadan has been tumultuous in Indonesian cities with several attacks on discos and nightclubs, prompting a group of Muslim clerics on Friday in Jakarta to express their support for tough measures against Muslim radicals.

At least 76 Muslim clerics said police should be tough against a group of Islamic hardliners. Among the hardliners are those from the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), the Laskar Jihad and other groups.

These hardliners recently launched sweeps and attacks on amusement centers in Jakarta and other major cities, causing a stir in the nightlife of the cities. The Indonesian government had promised that these hotspots would be closed for the month of Ramadan.

City officials had decided on a ruling that directed these centers to close during the entire month of Ramadan.

A series of demonstration against the closures of these hotspots that sell alcohol, located in areas where prostitution is rampant, forced authorities to close their eyes on those who ignored the ruling.

This in turn led to the series of night attacks in which wallets, and other personal belongings, of disco and nightclub patrons were taken by the attackers. They also destroyed bottles of alcoholic drinks in these centers.

The Islamic Defenders’ Front (FPI), responsible for the attacks, has been under fire from human rights activists for the assaults during Ramadan.

Reports say the ulema and other clerics went to a police headquarters in Jakarta to urge the police to crack down on FPI activists.

Support for police intervention from Muslim preachers was expressed in a written statement that also slammed alleged violent acts by FPI members. They argued the FPI was not doling out justice while attacking nightclubs, bars and discos.

The ulema group said a persuasive approach through dialog with FPI activists has failed, and since then. their actions have become intolerable. The ulema say police agree with them that the FPI and other groups within the cities do not have any authority to hold any raids or sweeps.

Pubs, cafes and other night amusement centers have become the target of the FPI. However, it is sometimes unclear whether the attackers are actually FPI members, or paid thugs operating only for money.

FPI hardliners have argued the attacks were launched against the nightspots because the police did nothing to stop what they called “immoral activities” during Ramadan.

On Wednesday, FPI activists raided a house used for prostitution in Subang and Cikijing in West Java. They shaved three women bald in front of many people and allegedly beat a man to death. The man was purportedly trying to prevent them from shaving the heads of the women.

Police in Jakarta confirmed the three women reported the incident, but said they could not be sure it was the FPI or any other group who committed the acts.

To make things more even more confusing, a local preacher’s house was burned following the violent raid on the brothel.

On Thursday, FPI activists from Jakarta vandalized a police station in Cikopo, Cikampek in West Java, leaving several security officers injured.

Report says they harassed the police for not acting against the nightspots during the holy month. The police have promised the ulema that visited them of stern action against the attackers.

The police cautioned, however, that it is be difficult to ascertain who the actual attackers are.