[Kabar-indonesia] Ubud Writers: West, some Muslims share radicalism blame

[JoyoNews at aol.com]

West, some Muslims share radicalism blame - writers

By Sugita Katyal

UBUD, Indonesia, October 3 (Reuters) - Western foreign policy and a
tendency among some Muslims to impose their idea of truth have been
key factors in the the rise of radical Islam, Muslim writers say.

"Islam is about peace and submission. But there are certain realities
that we cannot hide from," said Ziauddin Sardar, a Britain-based
writer best known for his book, "Why Do People Hate America".

"There is a certain radicalisation of young Muslims not just in Muslim
countries but also in the Muslim population in the West," Sardar told
a writers' conference in the Balinese resort town of Ubud.

"One reason for it is Western policy, what's happened in Iraq,
Afghanistan, Lebanon, Chechnya. (Millions of) Muslims are very 
Young and they feel very angry and hurt by the perpetual death and
destruction in their society."

Muslim writers do not, however, pin the blame for the rise of Islamic
radicalism only on Western policy, but say the Muslim world's failure
to engage with the Western world is a key reason for the differences
and misunderstanding.

Dina Zaman, a young Malaysian Muslim writer, who is compiling her
provocative column "I am a Muslim" into a book, said moderate Muslims
also need to engage with conservative Muslims to bridge the gap.

"Western policy and prejudice are a reason. But also we've been taught
from young, Muslims vs Kafirs, Kafirs vs Muslims. When you have this
concept of the other you're opening a whole can of worms," said Zaman,
one of about 100 writers at the festival in the cultural capital of
Bali.

"If we keep perpetuating these myths, we're walking on a time-bomb,"
she said. "When you believe that your perception is right and the
other is not then how can you discuss?"

Sardar and Zaman were among many Muslim authors seeking to demystify
Islam at the Ubud festival which was started three years ago to help
the recovery process from the 2002 Bali bombings.

A number of Islamic militants were convicted in connection with the
nightclub bombings that killed 220 people, mostly foreigners.

"Literature is a way of healing wounds," said Janet De Neefe, the
organiser of the Ubud festival. "Last year we had a session on
terrorism. This year we have one on Islam. It's such a misunderstood
faith. We're addressing all the issues with grey areas."

Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation and most people
follow a moderate form of Islam. But a radical minority has become
increasingly vocal in recent years in the country, which has seen
several major bombing attacks in addition to the 2002 incident.

Indonesian poet Acep Zamzam Noor said the Islam taught in the
country's Muslim schools or pesantrans was a moderate form which used
different ways such as poetry to teach children about god.

He said if there was a clash it was between the moderate and extreme
way of teaching Islam.

Others said one reason for the yawning gap was the fact that a certain
section of Muslims was trying to impose its idea of the truth on the
rest of the world.

They said violence, especially suicide bombings, was against basic
Muslim principles because Islam forbids despair and Allah is always
merciful and forgiving.

"We've acquired a particular notion of truth which serves us in a
particular way. Trouble is that some Muslims think they own the truth.
The idea of owning the truth is the crux of the problem," said Sardar.

"If you believe you have the perfect truth and you believe you have
the right to impose it on others, then there's a problem. This notion
negates the very essence of Islam."

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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