Investigating at random from your links, we get this mixed picture of Islamic opinion in the Maldives. It shows their relatively pacifistic and tolerant brand of East-Asian Islam but also reveals their sympathetic identification with violent Muslim terrorists in Kashmir:
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| Saturday, 07 th December 2002 | ||
Terrorism clouds hover over Fitr Eid celebrations |
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| Wednesday, 04 December 2002 | |
SINGAPORE, Dec 4 (AFP) - A “crisis of humanity” overshadows Muslim preparations for Eid-al-Fitr this week, religious leaders suggest, as the threat of further terrorist action by extremists weighs on celebration plans.
Eid has deep significance in Muslim tradition, but this year instead of celebrating the end of Ramadan, Muslims will likely be praying not to get caught in a backlash from the war on terror.
“There is a long battle ahead to clean the image of Muslims linked with violence and terrorists,” Malaysia’s deputy information minster, Zainuddin Maidin, said.
“We have to prove ourselves as good Muslims and not as what has been portrayed, not as terrorists.”
Eid-al-Fitr, also known as Hari Raya in Malaysia, is a period of feasting and alms-giving to mark the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of prayer and fasting.
Muslims buy new clothes, prepare special food and spruce up their homes as families gather for the spiritual celebration.
But the moveable feast — expected this Thursday or Friday depending on sightings of the new moon — is being held this year against a backdrop of bombings blamed on Islamic terrorists that have claimed hundreds of lives, especially in Indonesia and the Philippines.
Security forces across Southeast Asia are on high alert, and Indonesia has mobilised 120,000 police and readied bomb squads as an estimated 13 million Muslims prepare to make their annual journey home for Eid.
Dien Syamsuddin, secretary general of Indonesia’s highest authority on Islam — the Council of Muslim Scholars, said Eid this year was tarnished by a “crisis of humanity” in which Muslims had to play their part to overcome.
Muslims must show “restraint from all negative actions that can harm this world we are living in or lead it to its destruction”, he said, urging Muslims to show “a human face reflecting the peaceful teachings of our religion, Islam.”
In Australia, where Muslim facilities including a mosque were attacked following the October 12 bombing of Indonesia’s resort island of Bali, Muslim leaders said Eid celebrations would proceed as normal.
More than 35,000 people were expected at the country’s largest mosque in Sydney, but Australian Federation of Islamic Councils spokesman Kuranda Seyid said there was no need for extra security.
“As bad as it’s been recently, things have settled down and we’re not going to change the way we go about worshipping because that would be giving in.”
While Muslims in Southeast Asia are praying for an end to a relatively new terrorist threat, in India’s only majority-Muslim state of Kashmir, Muslims said they are praying for their freedom.
A rebellion against Indian rule by Islamic militants has claimed more than 37,500 lives in the past 13 years — a toll equivalent to 200 Bali bombings.
“Those who are slaves do not enjoy Eid to the extent it is enjoyed by free people,” said Molvi Abbas Ansari, an influential Shiite leader and executive member of Kashmir’s main separatist alliance.
A local imam in Srinagar, Ali Mohammed Wani, said his wish was for Eid to be celebrated “with simplicity given the daily deaths and destruction in Kashmir.”
In the Philippines, also with a long-running battle with Muslim separatists, President Gloria Arroyo declared Eid al-Fitr a national holiday, a first for a Muslim celebration in the predominantly Roman Catholic country.
In multi-religious Singapore, where 31 members of Jemaah Islamiyah, blamed for the Bali bombing, were detained for plotting a bomb campaign, the minister for Muslim Affairs, Yaacob Ibrahim, said Eid “is in itself a cause for celebration, no matter what the circumstances may be.” “Singaporeans value racial and religious harmony and this has helped to create a harmonious society,” Yaacob added.
“We can be optimistic that if we remain vigilant against terrorism, there will be peace and stability.”
© 2000 Haveeru Daily, P.O Box 20103, Ameenee Magu, Male, Maldives. Tel: (960) 325671, Fax: (960) 323103,
E-mail: haveeru@haveeru.com.mv
E-mail: haveeru@haveeru.com.mv