The hard-line Islam Defenders Front (FPI) softened its threat to retaliate with violence at home if a US-based Christian group went ahead with their “International Burn a Koran Day” on Sept. 11.
The Dove World Outreach Center from Gainesville, Florida — led by Pastor Terry and Sylvia Jones — announced the controversial plan to commemorate the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
“We urge that there be no burning of holy books of any religion, be it Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism or any other. This is what we want to emphasize,” FPI chairman Habib Rizieq said during an interfaith dialogue on Wednesday.
The organization has often reacted forcefully and violently against anything they deem anti-Islamic. They recently threatened to retaliate at home if Dove eventually went through with the planned burning in the US.
Representatives from the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI), the Indonesian Bishops Council (KWI), the Pluralism Care Movement (GPP), the FPI and other religious groups attended the event in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He also called on Muslims to refrain from retaliating should the event take place because “burning the holy book of any religion according to Islam is a cruel and contemptible act which no Muslim may do”.
He added that Muslims were obliged to be angry if the burning took place, but this must be shown in a “clever” way. They also had to retaliate without “justifying all means”, he said.
“FPI calls on Muslims, including all jihad groups in the world to find, and murder all perpetrators involved in the heinous [Koran burning], because spilling their blood is halal — not because they are Christians or part of a church congregation or Americans, but because they have insulted [Islam],” he said.
Those who were not involved in the acts may not be “blamed, harassed or treated unjustly,” he added.
Reverend Andreas A. Yewangoe, chairman of the PGI, said the group had sent a letter to US President Barack Obama requesting him to use his authority to halt the planned Koran burning.
“Moreover, we strongly expect that you, Mr. president, can call for peace from all US citizens in order to maintain good relations with Muslims and for the sake of liberal peace,” he said, regarding the letter’s content.
He further added that the group had sent a similar letter to the Council of Churches in the US calling for their help in blocking “the plan of the leaders and congregation of Dove World Outreach Center to continue all Koran-burning action”.
Mgr. Petrus Canisius Mandagi from the Conference of Indonesian Bishops, similarly said the conference “strongly condemned the plans and similar actions conducted by anyone, anywhere”.
Noted Catholic scholar, Frans Magnis-Suseno, pointed out that the Council of the Vatican required all people of faith to respect other religions, so the condemnation expressed by the Indonesian Communion of Churches and Conference of Indonesian Bishops should not be construed as “seeking safety”. (gzl)
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