Letter: On blasphemy law

I refer to the report on the review of the blasphemy law (The Jakarta Post, 11 March 2010).

There seems to be some confusion between the terms blasphemy and heresy, which are two different things, but nevertheless I would comment as follows.

As an Islamic scholar, Habib Rizieq must be aware that nowhere does the Koran prescribe death as a penalty for apostasy, and that the hadith generally used to justify this punishment is, at the very least, of dubious validity, and many reputable scholars regard it as certainly spurious. 

Moreover, during the Prophet’s lifetime and for some time thereafter, the only instances of apostates being killed are those in which apostates took up arms against Muslims, in that period a small and insecure group still finding its way.

I recall that a few years ago, Rizieq was reported in this newspaper to have said that the FPI leadership could not be responsible for the behavior of its followers.

I beg to differ, for the answer to the problem lies in the hands of Islamic leaders in general, and especially with Rizieq, who is uniquely placed to preach the true, peaceful message of Islam as revealed in the Koran, and so restrain the extraordinary and un-Islamic thirst for violence displayed by some of his membership.

If he does not do so, then, like all responsible leaders, he must be prepared to take the blame.

Alan Michaels
Jakarta