Wahid Foundation: No Islamophobia In Indonesia

Mujtaba Hamdi / Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - Wahid Foundation Executive Director Mujtaba Hamdi said there needs to be a clarification of public understanding in interpreting the terminology of Islamophobia, namely the excessive fear of Islam or adherents of Islam, which is often used by irresponsible people to corner the government and divide the people. "Islamophobia is a sociological description of symptoms, how Western majority people view Islam as a threat. Islamophobia does not exist in Indonesia. This is a misrepresentation, "he said in a statement received in Jakarta, Friday, February 11. In addition, he added, excessive fear of Islam is also used as an excuse to carry out terror, thus generalizing Muslims as a threat. "In Indonesia, the use of telecommunications Islamophobia actually aims to defend violent or hateful behavior against others, which is carried out by a small number of Muslims. So this is a reverse phenomenon," he explained. Mujtaba regretted this phenomenon, especially radical groups tend to often play victim when criticized for the actions of those who spread hatred in the name of religious teachings.

"They use Islamophobic terminology to justify hatred against others. When they are criticized (for their actions), they are playing the victim," he said. This, according to him, must be understood by the public. "It is not Islam, but their actions that should be criticized," he stressed. "First, using the terminology of the unity of the people. Second, Islamophobia is their defense mechanism, when they are criticized for their actions," he said. The pattern of movement of these radical groups, he continued, was to create disharmony in society. Then proceed with asking for a defense on behalf of the unity of the Muslims. The climax is to assume that anyone who does not defend and criticize is Islamophobic, he said. "In fact, in Indonesia itself there are no social phenomena that refer to Islamophobic practices. Muslims, as the majority, have been greatly facilitated by the state," he explained. with all available resources, it is very facilitating, both Muslims and all adherents of other religions, to worship according to their respective beliefs and beliefs." How will the government be Islamophobic if the government also facilitates a lot of Muslims; starting with the Hajj, providing funding for places of worship? , even education is also facilitated, and so on," he said. The graduate of Anthropology Postgraduate from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences from the University of Indonesia (Fisip UI) assessed the need for a concrete and effective strategy to eradicate people who often misinterpret the term Islamophobia to create chaos. in the midst of society."Need to ed public demonstrations to show what symptoms that refer to Islamophobia really look like, so that they are not used out of context," he said.