NU asks Muslims, non-muslims to create peaceful Ramadan

Jakarta, NU Online
The Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) has asked the Muslim and non-Muslim communities in the country to jointly create a peaceful Ramadan fasting month.

"Keep disputes away, unite in motions and steps, let us build this nation by keeping the peace during the fasting month," PBNU spokesman Malik Madani said here on Tuesday (10/8).<<>br />
He said destructive acts that could create rifts in the community, weaken national unity and integrity should be avoided.

Malik said Muslims who were fasting should set the example in maintaining peace to other religious communities in the country.

"Ramadan is a good moment to demonstrate peace to other people," he was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.

Therefore, he added, PBNU had asked the Muslim community in the country not to conduct sweeps and the like during the fasting month because if they did, it would reduce the meaning of Ramadan peace.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) of Yogyakarta has warned local Muslim organizations not to conduct sweeps on entertainments centers during the fasting month, saying it was the police's responsibility to do so.

Yogyakarta MUI branch spokesman Ahmad Muhsin Kamaludiningrat said here on Tuesday he was against sweeps on entertainment centers by Muslim mass organizations during Ramadan because it was not their responsibility to do so.

According to him sweeping entertainment centers during the fasting month was the police's responsibility because they were the legally recognized agency to do so.

He said sweeps would not be optimal if the people failed to participate in maintaining neighborhood security.

But it was not the Muslim organizations' responsibility to do sweeps during the fasting month.

Therefore, Ahmad Muhsin asked all people to exercise mutual respect and tolerance.

"I hope people will respect each other and support the government policy to have entertainment centers closed during the fasting month," he said. (dar)