Mahfud MD Emphasizes Islam is Not a Terrorist Religion in Today's History, March 18, 2021

History today, five years ago, March 18, 2021, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs (Menkopolhukam), Mahfud MD emphasized that Islam is not a religion of terror. The narrative was revealed because all religions hate the agenda of terrorism.

Previously, acts of terrorism often brought deep wounds to all Indonesian people. Those who carried out terrorist acts often carried the flag of the Islamic religion. This condition made the world see Islam as a religion of terror. A view that many parties reject.

Terrorism is often the most feared thing to happen in Indonesia. This is because terrorism often makes the whole country a hassle. The government is moving quickly to find the perpetrators of the terror. The people are also filled with fear. The image of Islam as a peaceful religion is also damaged.

All of this is because the act of terror often carries the flag of the Islamic religion. Many also become terrorists because they misunderstand the issue of jihad. This condition makes those who join terrorist groups prone to groups such as the Jamaah Islamiyah to the East Indonesian Mujahidin (MIT).

The presence of this group will inevitably damage the image of Islam as a religion of peace. The act of terrorism is like strengthening the existing view that Islam is a religion of terror. Take an example in 2020 alone.

The National Police Headquarters revealed that it had arrested 228 terrorist suspects from various regions in Indonesia throughout 2020. The arrest further strengthened the image of the Islamic religious flag terrorist group. This condition is detrimental to many parties.

This action then made many foreign tourists think twice about going to Indonesia. In fact, the group of ulama emphasized that terrorists have no religion. Islam is a religion of peace. Islam cannot possibly do anything to hurt fellow human beings.

"The latest one was the arrest of 23 JI (Jamaah Islamiyah) terrorist groups on behalf of Upik Lawangan and Zulkarnaen who have been DPO for years," said National Police Chief General Idham Azis as quoted by the lamantempo.co page, December 22, 2020.

The narrative of Islam as a religion of terror made Mahfud MD speak out on March 18, 2021. The Minister of Law and Human Rights denied the assumption that Islam is a religion of terror because Islam is a religion of peace. He considered that terrorist acts were only carried out by a few people.

Mahfud gave an example of Indonesian residents who are mostly Muslim. Those who adhere to Islam reach 87 percent, while the perpetrators of terror who claim to be Islam are only a few. This means that people cannot immediately draw the conclusion that Islam is a terrorist religion.

All religions hate terrorism, including Islam. All of them so that people of different religions can live in peace. The narrative of Islam as a religion of terror must also be stopped.

Mahfud also invited all religious people in Indonesia to respect each other. He revealed that there was no need to hate because of the difference of a religion.

"Islam is not a religion of terror. (Residents) Indonesia are 87 percent Muslim, but if there are terrorists who happen to be Muslims, it's only a few people. Islam is a religion of peace," said Mahfud as quoted by the lamankumparan, March 18, 2021.