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Launch of book by suspected Shia writer met with protests
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Against Shia: Protesters grouped under the Prophet Muhammad Family’s Lovers Association reject the presence of Haidar Bagir, a suspected Shia figure, at a book launch in Surakarta, Central Java, on May 8. (JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi)
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undreds of people grouped under the Prophet Muhammad Family’s Lovers Association protested a book launch at the Surakarta State Islamic Institute (IAIN) in Surakarta, Central Java, on Tuesday.
They protested the presence of Haidar Bagir, the author of the book Islam Tuhan Islam Manusia (Islam the God Islam the Human Being), whom they accuse of being a Shiite.
“We come here to stage a peaceful rally. Haidar Bagir is a Shiite. As stated in an Indonesian Ulema Council [MUI] East Java edict, Shiites are heretical,” rally coordinator Tengku Ahzar said.
Azhar, who is also the Surakarta Sharia Council (DSKS) secretary- general, further said the council had approached IAIN Surakarta rectorate officials and the book launch’s organizing committee several times to ask them to cancel the event.
However, campus authorities insisted on holding the book launch as scheduled. “Haidar Bagir is the leader of Shiites, which are heretical, in Indonesia. IAIN should know that,” said Azhar.
DSKS head Mu'inudinillah Basri said he was worried the book launch would be used as a way to spread Shia teachings, which according to him could trigger dissension in society.
Uda Rahman Hakim, the head of IAIN Surakarta’s student council, which held the book launch, said the event was a pure academic activity. “There was no intention of disseminating teachings of a certain religious group to the public,” he said. (ebf)
