MUI Deputy Secretary General Ikhsan Abdullah Reminds Muslims Not ToACK Israel's Boycott

JAKARTA - Deputy Secretary General of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Ikhsan Abdullah, reminded Muslims to remain actively boycotting Israeli products and all affiliated as a form of struggle to help Gazans, Palestinians, who have suffered more than three months of suffering tremendous suffering due to Israeli genocide practices.

"The socialization of the boycott movement of Israeli products and Israeli affiliated products should not be slack, it must continue to be inflamed," said Ikhsan on the sidelines of the National Gathering of Islamic Organizations and Religious Assemblyes in the Declaration of Peaceful Elections for Inter-Islamic Ormas and Interfaith Organizations, at the Grand Sahid Jaya Hotel, Jakarta, Tuesday, January 16.

According to Ikhsan, MUI has been actively inviting people to avoid global products affiliated with Israel.

"That's part of the implementation of the Palestinian struggle support fatwa," he said.

In November 2023, MUI issued Fatwa Number 83 of 2023 concerning the Law of Support for Palestine's Struggle. Fatwa stated that it is mandatory for Muslims to help the Palestinian independence struggle, including through donations, zakat, infaq or alms. At the same time, MUI forbids all forms of activity and support in Israel's aggression against Palestine.

In the same fatwa, MUI recommends that Muslims "to the maximum possible to avoid transactions and use of products affiliated with Israel as well as those that support colonialism and zionism".

The boycott invitation prompted many groups to abandon various products from multinational Israeli-affiliated companies or caught supporting Israel's genocide against Gaza. Among the many boycotted by residents in various regions are international brands such as McDonald, Starbucks, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Burger King, KFC, Danone and many more.

All of these brands are known to be owned by foreign companies that have traces of links in supporting the Israeli economy through various investments or direct funding support for Israeli war machines.

According to Ikhsan, the boycott movement, which has become a global phenomenon, has brought about significant changes in society, including the strengthening of preferences over local products.

"This is something encouraging, local products are able to take over the position of Israeli-affiliated brands," he said.

According to Ikhsan, this also indicates the high solidarity of Indonesian citizens as well as the trust of the Muslim people in the MUI authorities in the field of morals and religion.

Israel's relentless attacks on the Gaza and Palestinian territories in the past 100 days have spawned genocide that has tightened the world's public awareness. In addition to the inevitable destruction of the Gaza region, more than 23,700 Palestinians have died, of which 12,300 are children.

The genocide prompted South Africa and a number of countries in the world to drag Israel to the International Court (ICJ). According to Ikhsan, MUI supports the bold initiative and hopes the court can stop genocide in Gaza.

"We are grateful to South Africa for successfully dragging Israel to the International Court," he said. What South Africa is doing today will be remembered in the world and recorded in history

Therefore, Ikhsan encourages Muslims to be consistent and active in various efforts to help the Palestinian people's struggle, including through the boycott movement of Israeli products and all affiliated, because it could have an impact on world policies and international geopoliticals.

"One way to support the Palestinian struggle is to continue to promote the boycott movement to put pressure on Israel and at the same time fertilize people's love for domestic products," said Ikhsan.