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MUI urges Muslims to remain peaceful after Tolikara incident
The Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI) and several other Islamic organizations urged Muslims to restrain themselves and not be easily influenced by provocations related to riots in Tolikara, Papua, that have resulted in a mushola (prayer room) and numerous kiosks being burned to the ground
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he Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI) and several other Islamic organizations urged Muslims to restrain themselves and not be easily influenced by provocations related to riots in Tolikara, Papua, that have resulted in a mushola (prayer room) and numerous kiosks being burned to the ground.
"The main thing is that all parties should work together to create peace and security in Papua and Indonesia," MUI's deputy chairman Ma'ruf Amin said during a press conference on Wednesday, adding that MUI hoped that Muslims upheld solidarity to guard the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).
While deploring the Tolikara incident that has claimed one life and injured 11 others, Ma'ruf urged Muslims to be alert to the possibility of certain parties with the intention to create chaos, kompas.com reported.
The Tolikara incident during the Idul Fitri Islamic holiday on July 17, which according to the Evangelical Church in Indonesia (GIDI), was triggered by the shooting of GIDI members who were on their way to warn Muslims not to pray in an open field or use a loudspeaker as had been requested by the GIDI two weeks before via the local authorities.
The church's letter requested Muslims to perform the Idul Fitri prayers inside buildings and without loudspeakers, as the holiday coincided with the GIDI's international youth seminar and revival service (KKR) on July 15-20. The Tolikara police had agreed and promised to follow up the request , according to the church president Dorman Wandikmbo.
The shooting killed 15-year-old Endi Wanimbo and injured 11 others, according to a GIDI press release on July 18.
Some locals reacted by burning kiosks and a mushola in the middle of the premises, GIDI said.
The news about the burning of the mushola continued to circulate in social media and triggered anger among some Muslim communities throughout the country.
On Monday, two churches in Yogyakarta and Purworejo in Central Java were subject to unsuccessful arson attacks.(+++)
