by Mathias Hariyadi

The members of the Shiite minority have been holed up in the sports field since August 27, after clashes with the Sunni majority. For local government their humanitarian conditions are unacceptable, but no official is doing anything to help them. The Islamic Network of Anti-Discrimination and other humanitarian organizations denounce the climate of hatred against the Shia.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) - The local authorities in Sampang (Island of Madura) , using public order as their motive, are trying to drive hundreds of minority Shia Muslims out of the district. They had taken refuge in the sports stadium after August 27 riots between Sunnis and Shiites, which left four people dead. Yesterday several human rights organizations including StaraMuda, Prasastti, GusDurian Jombang and the Islamic Network of Anti-Discrimination (JIAD), launched an appeal to expose the poor conditions of the Shiite minority and the silence of public officials and the police.

JIAD president An Ashori, has told AsiaNews that until now no politician or official has visited the Shiite citizens, imprisoned in their own city. To date, the police have refused to investigate the fate of 20 people who disappeared during the violence and only a humanitarian organization and a group for interreligious dialogue is involved in helping these victims.

In recent days, several moderate leaders and representatives of the Islamic Front have criticized the actions of President Susilo Yudhoyono, who does nothing to stop the violence or eradicate the seed of hatred among followers of Muhammad in the most populous Muslim country in the world. Since the riots of August 27, the leaders of the Islamic Council of Ulema (Majelis Ulama Indonesia - MUI) in Sampang and East Java have continued to incite the Sunnis against the Shia minority and its leader Tajul Muluk defined by the ulema "a cancer to eradicate. "

Muluk has already been sentenced to two years in prison for spreading teachings contrary to Islamic morals, but did appeal by requesting a review of the verdict. He is also accused of having fomented by his "heretical" preaching hatred of the Sunnis towards Shiites. Recently the local government, in collusion with the police and the Islamic authorities, has spread these allegations among the people of Indonesia, placing a significant burden of responsibility for the fighting on the Shiite minority, which has done nothing to stop its leader, thereby justifying the inaction of the police in quelling the violence. According to AsiaNews sources also Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the largest moderate Islamic organization in Indonesia, is divided. Many members of the NU in Sampang support the position of the Sunni authorities, who are pressing for the expulsion of Shiites from the city. Until now, the national leaders of the NU chose not to make official statements, judging the situation as "very sensitive".

 

• INDONESIA
• ISLAMIC
• FRONT
• SAMPANG
• SHIA
• SUNNI
• RIOTS