Assertive! Vice President Ma'ruf Amin Calls Terrorism Not Jihad Because Of Its Destructive Character

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin (Photo: DOK Setkab)

JAKARTA - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin emphasized that no single religion in Indonesia teaches its adherents to go to extremes and spread terror.

"I also want to reiterate that there is no single religion that teaches its adherents to commit extremism and terrorism. All religious teachings reject terrorism, whatever the reason," said Vice President Ma'ruf at the Shangri-la Hotel in Jakarta, Wednesday, June 16. .

In the view of Islam, Vice President Ma'ruf said that extremism and terrorism in the name of religion are excessive acts of religion.

"Terrorism is not a jihad that is repairing or ishlah, because the basic character of terrorism is destructive, ifsad," said the Vice President.

In the preamble of the 1945 Constitution, the Vice President continued, the state was formed to protect the entire Indonesian nation and the entire homeland of Indonesia.

Therefore, the Government has a mandate, commitment and a strong legal basis to prevent and take action in the context of eradicating criminal acts of terrorism, he explained.

"President (Joko Widodo) also at the end of March also emphasized that terrorism is a crime against humanity and has nothing to do with any religion," said the vice president.

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin attended the launching of the implementation of Presidential Regulation Number 7 of 2021 concerning the National Action Plan for the Prevention and Combating of Violent Extremism Based on Terrorism (RAN PE) 2020-2024 at the Shangri-la Hotel, Jakarta, Wednesday.

The event was organized by the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) and was also attended by Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security (Polhukam) Mahfud MD and Head of BNPT Komjen Boy Rafli Amar.

Boy said the Presidential Regulation provides space for all elements of society to be involved in preventing violent-based extremism that leads to terrorism.

"The triggering factors for violent extremism, which lead to terrorism, are never single and not all spaces in society can be entered by state actors, so this Presidential Regulation facilitates it," he said.