Executing the Bali Nine so-called “ring leaders” is not so far off from radical killings done by the Islamic State, says Haset Sali, former president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Societies.
He insists that these impending executions will only further damage Islam’s global reputation.
Sali, reportedly wrote an open letter to Indonesian President Joko Widodo, appealing to his faith and urging him to grant clemency as a responsible Muslim.
His letter, titled ‘ISLAM: How sacred is one human life?’ is quoted by Australia’s ABC News as saying that clemency will help improve the religion’s negative image that ISIS has in no doubt damaged.
“More recently we have seen fanatics who have sought to hijack Islam and the philosophy of Islam, particularly in the Middle East and in Africa.
“The tragedy of allowing that sort of thing [and] seeing that sort of thing emulated, in my view is not going to enhance Islam or benefit humanity in a global sense.”
From there, Sali insists that Jokowi should not follow in the footsteps of the fanatics:
“We all know an “eye for an eye” if practiced fanatically would make the whole world blind.”
He continues, drawing a connection to recent horrific killings elsewhere in the world:
“As President of Indonesia you have a great opportunity to highlight to the whole World you are above the recent tragic killings/executions particularly in the Middle East and Africa.”
We would sure love to hear Jokowi’s response to this letter, which may certaintly hit a nerve for the leader of the world’s most populous Muslim nation.
Photo by AFP
