TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

MUI issues how-to guide to make social media great again

With social media increasingly turning into a platform for hate and bigotry, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) on Monday issued a guide for Muslims in the country on how to responsibly use the medium

Haeril Halim (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Tue, June 6, 2017

Share This Article

Change Size

MUI issues how-to guide to make social media great again

W

ith social media increasingly turning into a platform for hate and bigotry, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) on Monday issued a guide for Muslims in the country on how to responsibly use the medium.

In the 20-page guide, which takes the form of a fatwa (edict), the MUI forbade Muslims from spreading hate speech, slanderous statements, hoaxes, pornographic material and racial slurs, which it deemed haram (forbidden under Islamic law).

“While communicating on social media, Muslims must consider the action as part of efforts to promote iman [faith] and ketakwaan [piety] instead of kufur [infidelity] and maksiat [sin],” the MUI said.

The body also declared in the edict that it was also haram for Muslims to take the job of a social media “buzzer” whose work is to distribute hoaxes, slanderous accusations and fake news for personal economic gain.

“We also proscribe Muslims from [...] supporting and taking advantage of the profession of social media buzzer,” the edict said.

MUI chairman Ma’ruf Amin officially handed over the fatwa to Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara in a ceremony on Monday and expressed hope that the guideline could be used as reference for a cyber-security team at the ministry to prosecute any offenders.

Ma’ruf said that although the edict was nonbinding, he expected Muslims in Indonesia to abide by it.

The MUI chairman said that the council took the initiative after getting complaints that the effects of fake news and hate speech on social media had worsened in recent months.

“The problems of social media have become so serious that President Jokowi made repeated calls for people to stop themselves from spreading hate speech on social media. This is why the MUI stepped in to provide a solution for the nation,” Ma’ruf said.

Ma’ruf also said that the MUI decided to take action following reports of a surge in cases of vigilantism, which involved social media users being targeted by hard-line Muslim organizations for allegedly posting statements deemed slanderous to Islam or Muslim clerics.

Last week, Fiera Lovita, 40, a physician at Solok Regional Hospital, received police protection after being harassed by members of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) after she posted statements on Facebook criticizing FPI leader Rizieq Shihab for fleeing the country after being named a suspect in a pornography case.

Also last week, a 15-year-old boy of Chinese descent in Cipinang Muara, East Jakarta, was subjected to intimidation and violence by alleged supporters of the FPI after posting statements on Facebook that could be interpreted as making fun of Rizieq.

Responding to the MUI’s move, Rudiantara said that the fatwa could encourage the ministry to step up its monitoring of incendiary rhetoric on social media.

“This is a breath of fresh air for us at the ministry. This could support our work in containing the spread of negative content and hate speech on the internet. The fatwa will be used as a reference for our team, which also has a representative at the MUI, to determine whether to block something on the internet,” Rudiantara said.

Rudiantara said the ministry would also work with the National Police to bring criminal charges against netizens who spread hatred and slander on social media.

{

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.