MUI Refuses to Comment on Abdul Somad's Speech

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) spokesperson Masduki Baidlowi, stated the public should take the alleged blasphemy case of Muslim preacher Abdul Somad as a lesson. He said a religious figure should be mindful in delivering a sermon.

“We, as a figure representing the community, have to be more careful about giving a speech. I think this becomes a warning for all of us,” said Masduki when met in the MUI office, Wednesday, August 21.

On Tuesday afternoon, Masduki and the council's boards held a meeting with the preacher following the latter’s remarks on Christian cross which was considered insulting Christian community.

However, the council refused to comment on the speech’s content, claiming they did not have a capacity to judge the statement delivered in a private Islamic session, at An-Nur Mosque, three years ago.

The council said to have more concerns about the impact of the speech on the communal harmony in the future. Moreover, several parties had filed a police report against the preacher.

“We call in him to calm the situation and prevent it being handled in the legal process, but a cultural approach between religious figures,” said Masduki.

He added MUI’s internal meeting decided to establish other sessions with a number of religious figures to cool down the public tension triggered by Abdul Somad’s blasphemous remarks, not to mention that the situation had just chilled after the heated 2019 presidential election.

EGI ADYATAMA