Islamic group seeking adoption of Syariah in Banten Developmen Plan

Serang, NU Online
A number of Islamic organizations here agreed to conduct a campaign to familiarize regional legislative and executive bodies in Banten province with Islamic Shariah with the ultimate aim to get Islamic law concepts incorporated in the province’s Medium-Term Development Plan (2007-2012), their spokesman said.

Led by Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia, the initiative would be taken by Forum Silaturahmi Pondok Pesantren (FSPP), Korps Mubaligh Banten (KMB), Forum Ukhuwah Islamiyah (FUI) and Liga Muslim Indonesia.<>

They agreed to set up a team to conduct the campaign among regional legislative assembly and provincial executive members, Ali Mustofa, chairman of Hizbut Tahir’s Banten chapter, said here Monday.

"The aim of the effort is to encourage the provincial administration and the regional legislative assembly to include concepts of Islamic shariah in the province’s Medium-Term Development Plan of 2007-2012," Ali said after a meeting with representatives of other Islamic organizations.

He said the team would carry out information campaigns among executive and legislative members as well as the public that the idea was not intended to set up an Islamic state but to enable Indonesia to develop into a more advanced, respected and properous nation based on Islamic values.

The meeting also agreed to set up a team which will encourage the provincial chapter of the Indonesian Council of Ulemas to immediately organize a congress of Moslems in the province and form a working group to respond to strategic issues on the more practical concepts of shariah.

HM Sochari from the Korps Mubaligh Banten said his group would like to see the issuance of bylaws on the offering of tithes and against prostitution and consumption of alcoholic beverages. (ant/lun)