Mahfud MD: The Solution To Overcome Extremism Is Fostering Religious Moderation

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD while giving a speech at the National Leadership Meeting of the Central Executive Board of Jam'iyyah Expert Thoriqoh Mu'tabaroh Indonesia (JATMI)/ ANTARA/HO-Humas Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD said the government had made various efforts to tackle and prevent extremism.

"The government has participated in international cooperation to fight terrorism. The government has also made efforts to enforce the law on terrorism crimes that occurred in Indonesia. However, once again it must be remembered that the source of terrorism and extremism is in the mind that must be fought and prevented by thoughts," said Mahfud while attending the National Leadership Meeting of the Central Executive Board of the Jam'iyyah Expert Thoriqoh Mu'tabaroh Indonesia (JATMI), in Jakarta as reported by Antara, Thursday, February 3.

He also asked JATMI to support efforts to maintain national unity and integrity, particularly in preventing the spread of religious extremism.

According to Mahfud, crushing acts of terrorism and punishing terrorists may be easier to do, but it is not easy to crush and punish what is in the mind.

The natural mind, said Mahfud, can be influenced and developed at any time which can only be countered with other thoughts.

"The solution to extremism is to grow, develop, voice, and practice religious moderation. This of course requires the role of the community, especially religious experts and religious organizations that have competence and legitimacy. In this context, I believe JATMI organizations and congregations can have a big role together other religious organizations and the Government," said the former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court.

Tolerance, he said, is not enough to just say tolerance and allow people to be different, but to be increased in acceptance, namely not just understanding differences, but accepting to work together for mutual progress.

He also gave an example, in the context of nation and state, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam have "Kalimatun Sawa" or meeting point, namely the same vision in building a nation that can be brought together.

"For example, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam have 'Kalimatun Sawa' that leaders must be fair, elections must be honest, that's 'Kalimatun Sawa'. If I want to worship on Friday, I pray Friday, who wants to go to church, please go to church. , it's not 'Kalimataun Sawa'. But, building the country together, that's 'Kalimataun Sawa'," he said in a press release.

This alumnus of the Al-Mardiyah Islamic Boarding School in Pamekasan admits that JATMI always supports the legitimate government and always strives to improve the quality of Indonesia's human resources, through remembrance efforts, and development in the mental and spiritual fields through thoriqiah practice.

In front of the Thoriqoh congregation, Mahfud explained three types of extremism that can lead to acts of terrorism and intolerance, and have the potential to divide national unity, namely jihadists, takfiri, and ideological extremism.

According to Mahfud, Jihadists are the most extreme ones who believe in killing other people who don't agree with them, or even killing certain people and groups who are considered to be hindering the realization of their understanding.

"For example, this extremism is ISIS and several terrorism groups in Indonesia. They not only attack groups that are considered as opponents, but also parties who are seen as hindering their goals," said Mahfud.

Furthermore, Takfiri, according to Mahfud, is an understanding that considers other beliefs, even though one religion, to be misguided, unbelievers, which must not only be shunned but also antagonized.

"Identification of groups is not only at the level of thought, but also at certain symbols, such as how to dress," said Mahfud again.

The last type of extremism that is soft but still dangerous, Mahfud said, is ideological extremism. They have certain beliefs that are considered to be the most correct and blame other people's beliefs, even national ideologies such as Pancasila are called heretical.

"They are trying to change Pancasila by influencing thoughts through educational institutions and discussions, as well as infiltration brochures that Pancasila is wrong and must be replaced," said Mahfud MD.