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Indonesia does not need caliphate, MUI chief says amid social media frenzy
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National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) head Comr. Gen. Suhardi Alius (left) shakes hands with Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) head Ma'ruf Amin after a workshop in Jakarta on March 22. (Antara/Sigid Kurniawan)
I
ndonesian Ulema Council (MUI) chairman Ma'ruf Amin stated on Saturday that a caliphate, a system of Islamic rule under a leader considered a successor to Prophet Muhammad, was not suitable for Indonesia, since the country had adopted the system of a republic.
"A republic as the foundation of the nation has been agreed. We don't need to talk about a caliphate anymore, [the debate about it] is already over," he said after the opening of an economic congress in Jakarta, as quoted by kompas.com.
(Read also: Banser takes down banners promoting Islamic country in Central Java)
Ma'ruf said Indonesia's founding fathers of different backgrounds had approved the democratic republican system. He added that the proposal of a caliphate would trigger turmoil.
"It has become noisy again since the emergence of groups wanting a new system," he said, referring to the planned International Khilafah Forum to be held in Jakarta on Sunday, organized by hard-line group Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI).
Reports of the event have triggered a social media frenzy, with hash tag #KhilafahSolusinya (a caliphate is the solution) going viral.
Dakwah adalah realitas, islam dg Quran dan Sunnah adalah jalan utamanya.
Mewujudkan Islam sbg jalan hidup. #KhilafahSolusinya.
— Islam Agamaku (@Islaamidiina) April 23, 2017
Some claimed to have made social media posts from the event at Balai Sudirman in South Jakarta.
But the idea immediately triggered rejection from netizens, making the hash tag one of the nationally trending topics on Sunday.
Not just on 4/20, you'll watch people get stoned everyday. #khilafahsolusinya
— 😽 (@kucing) April 23, 2017
Previously, Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said Saturday that the police had not issued a permit for the forum by HTI after evaluating the potential risks of the event. (rdi/bbs)
