Criticism continues to hit hardline organization groups like the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) for enforcing a fatwa (religious edict) issued by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) which bans Muslim employees from wearing Christmas attire at work, the latest of which came from MUI themselves.
MUI head Ma’aruf Aamin yesterday condemned mass organizations who use the MUI’s fatwa to justify acts of religious vigilantism, like the FPI’s “sweeping” (a term which is used to describe groups going around and intimidating businesses that don’t comply with their religious rules, often using violent tactics) at several malls in the city of Surabaya to ensure that MUI’s fatwa is being observed.
“Mass organizations cannot carry out sweeping. They are not allowed, mass organizations have no right,” Ma’aruf said, as quoted by Detik.
“MUI’s fatwas are binding on a personal level for Muslims, and we can’t enforce them ourselves, only the authorities.”
Ma’aruf’s statement may come as too little too late for some, particularly for those already affected by the sweepings of said mass organizations. If MUI truly condemns vigilantes who use force to enforce their fatwas, they maybe they should issue a fatwa banning such acts.
