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Indonesian clerics want rules for Facebook
Indra Harsaputra and Niniek Karmini , Associated Press | Thu, 05/21/2009 2:52 PM | National
Muslim clerics are seeking ways to regulate online behavior in Indonesia, saying the exploding popularity of social networking sites like Facebook could encourage illicit sex.Around 700 clerics, or imams, gathered in the world's most populous Muslim nation on Thursday were considering guidelines forbidding their followers from going online to flirt or engage in practices they believe could encourage extramarital affairs.
Facebook says Indonesia, a nation of 235 million, was its fastest-growing country in Southeast Asia in 2008, with a 645 percent increase to 831,000 users - outpacing China and India. And with less than 0.5 percent of Indonesia's citizens wired, there is a huge potential for growth.
"The clerics think it is necessary to set an edict on virtual networking, because this online relationship could lead to lust, which is forbidden in Islam," said Nabil Haroen, a spokesman for the Lirboyo Islamic boarding school, which is hosting the event.
Though followers could still be members of the networking site, guidelines dealing with surfing the Web and Islamic values are urgently needed, he said.
Facebook officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Ninety percent of Indonesians are Muslim, though most practice a moderate form of the faith.
An edict by the clerics would not have any legal weight. But it could be endorsed by the influential Indonesian Ulema Council, which recently issued rulings against smoking and yoga. Most devout Muslims adhere to the council's rulings because ignoring a fatwa, or religious decree, is considered a sin.
Amidan, who heads the Ulema Council, said the growing number of Facebook users in Indonesia was a controversial subject among Muslim leaders and that he favored a ban because of possible sexual content.
"People using Facebook can be driven to engage in distasteful, pornographic chatting," said Amidan, who was monitoring the two-day conference in the town of Kediri, in eastern Java.
Many clerics are concerned that "inappropriate content" on Facebook could be accessed by children, said Amidan, who, like many Indonesians, goes by a single name.
Facebook is the top ranked site in Indonesia, ahead of search engines Yahoo and Google, according Alexa.com, which tracks Internet traffic. Nearly 4 percent of all Facebook visitors are from Indonesia, making it the largest source of visitors after the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Italy.
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Hilds (not verified) — Fri, 05/22/2009 - 2:44pm
I think rather than trying to ban everything, MUI should consider other approach in exercising their tasks.
Facebook, although able to a source of illicit sex (sounds a bit weird to me), it can also be source of good communication - a tool which MUI can also uses. Instead of banning it, why not MUI create or promote better image that persuades people of the importance and the beauty of faithfulness, family and religious life, etc.. and let people decide. Use the media to fight back...
It is the nature of people, if they are told NOT to do something it will only makes them want to do it even more... perhaps by banning it, number of facebook users in Indonesia will only increase.
Major_Bob (not verified) — Thu, 05/21/2009 - 7:20pm
Are they serious....? First of all I am a Muslim too. Yesterday I read an article in about a 7 year old Muslim girl in Germany, who is not allowed by their parent to join swimming class, because it could encourage sexual behaviour or whatever. Somehow I feel sad, why do people often thinks about the worst outcome, and not the positive outcome, which could occur, as in this case or in the facebook case.
Why do clerics always associate things with sexual activities, swimming, facebook. Are they constantly thinking about sex…..?
Andrew2410 — Fri, 05/22/2009 - 3:15pm
It seems they have a very low opinion of their followers' ability to make moral decisions for themselves. Hence their perceived need to ban everything. I believe human beings learn and strengthen their morality by making the correct choices when temptation arises. If temptation is removed, they are deprived from ever making those choices, and thus they will not develop strong morals. They will have a strong fear of punishment for non-conformity. But this is totally different. Andrew
Briend (not verified) — Thu, 05/21/2009 - 4:36pm
Who are they to tell us what is illicit or is a sin?! Or what is right or wrong?! Or what is forbidden?! or banned?!
Here are these religious dictators trying to force people to follow their ancient archaic anachronistic rules from primitive days written by ignorant selfish arrogant men.
Stand up against these people and tell them to mind their own business. All these religions and all their men think that their god gave them these rights to order other people to obey them.
Force them to give proof of their authority - and not from some writings from a book. That proof is only circumstantial and hearsay, written by other men, long since dead. When they cannot give it, then tell them to get out of your life.
Freedom from anarchy and dictatorship, and liberty to follow human rights.
Elishevadpw — Thu, 05/21/2009 - 4:26pm
"This online relationship could lead to lust"
Pretty much ANY kind of relationship could lead to lust! This statement is completely ridiculous!
"People using Facebook can be driven to engage in distasteful, pornographic chatting."
I have no idea how much this Mr. Amidan spend his time online in the internet but stating this shows pure naivete... as if chats on Yahoo, Gtalk, Live Messenger, Skype and others can not drive people to do the same??
Elisheva Wiriaatmadja
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Visit my personal finance blog.
Syimeda (not verified) — Thu, 05/21/2009 - 3:50pm
Why they only focus on the negativity, there are lots of positive side by using facebook. You can keep in touch with your family or friends that live miles away from you.
Free thinker (not verified) — Thu, 05/21/2009 - 3:48pm
Facebook is meant to facilitate relationship with others. Any misconduct is individual responsibility and should not be linked to any religion.
I think the clerics/ulemas have been too far regulating individual rights to socialize with other people.
In fact we need a law/decree to limit the involvement of religious body on individual's life / privacy.
90% of Indonesian are moslem but the majority don't like too much intervention on their private life.
When we can be a big nation if too much protection and prohibition to access international community.
Terry Winarta (not verified) — Thu, 05/21/2009 - 3:09pm
I am in Indonesian studying in Malaysia and I think this is kinda ridiculous. It is up to anyone how they want to behave and the Ulemas should not do any action. If the Muslims in Indonesia are Muslims with strong faith and belief, they would not do any indecent behaviors, as how the Ulemas are saying. Everyone should have their own freedom and it is up to anyone how they want to use their freedom.