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Radical Islam Failing to Take Hold in Central Java ‘Stronghold’: Survey
Ulma Haryanto | November 22, 2011

This file photo shows students at an Islamic boarding school. The teachings of radical Islam do not appear to be taking root in Central Java despite it being home to many hard-line organizations, a survey has found. (Antara Photo/Yusran Uccang) This file photo shows students at an Islamic boarding school. The teachings of radical Islam do not appear to be taking root in Central Java despite it being home to many hard-line organizations, a survey has found. (Antara Photo/Yusran Uccang)
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Kesiangan
7:59pm Nov 22, 2011

Dez, Roland, why so bitter? We all know that radical Islam is very vocal and obnoxious in this country. They never got the popular vote, though.


DrDez
6:33pm Nov 22, 2011

Roland touche

I think this is a terrible result for a nation who pretends to uphold peace and tolerance - another indicator as to why there is so much violence I guess


Roland
5:56pm Nov 22, 2011

This report also tells me that

- 30 percent are willing to support radical organizations,

- 47 percent believe that the term "jihad" should be identified with violence, and

- 37 percent believes that Islam justifies radicalism.

I think these numbers show that there is not yet a sufficient sign that implemented deradicalization programs are sufficiently successful, but that there is still a long way to go until everybody realizes that radicalism/terrorism is not the way of expressing social grievances.

agentmacgyver
5:02pm Nov 22, 2011

As we all know, a survey of West Java would yield much more alarming results.

DrDez
4:58pm Nov 22, 2011

I am finding it hard to see much positive in this sorry.

If we extrapolate the figures that means 30% or perhaps as many as 80 million Indonesians DO support radical organisations.... That is pretty scary

5Five

The FPI's stated policy is to create a greater SE Asian Islamic state under Sharia law. Perhaps you have forgotten the threats they openly made to the govt this year anda whole host of other Mafia style actions. The FPI are however the least of the problems as they are pretty well tied up with the police it is alleged - a greater threat comes from political Islamic groups - they are the ones able to buy hate and violence and they are supported by the Wahabbi petro $ They are the ones seeding the violence which is actually driving many good Muslims away and to Christianity in Indonesia interestingly

The teachings of radical Islam do not appear to be taking root in Central Java despite it being home to many hard-line organizations, a survey has found.

The Setara Institute for Peace and Democracy last month questioned 1,200 respondents living in 13 districts in Central Java and Yogyakarta that are known to be the strongholds of radical organizations.

“In general, it can be concluded that the attitude of the society in general is showing resistance to radical Islamic groups,” Setara researcher Ismail Hasani said on Monday.

He said 94 percent of those questioned were Muslims.

“The survey’s aim was to learn about the public’s perception of the latest dynamics of radical Islamic organizations, as well as to identify the response and configure a way to block the spread of radical organizations,” Ismail said.

Setara’s deputy chairman, Bonar Tigor Naipospos, said that in Central Java — and particularly in Solo — there were several radical Islamic organizations actively spreading their ideas and “struggles.”

“Solo, by many groups, is still considered to be the base, or seedbed, for the regeneration of radical Islam, even terrorism,” Bonar said.

The survey also showed encouraging results from the country’s de-radicalization programs. A majority of respondents (63 percent) said they believed that Islam did not justify radicalism, while 53 percent believed that the term “jihad” should not be identified with violence.

“The most important thing is that the majority, more than 70 percent, were not willing to support radical organizations,” Ismail said. “The majority also agreed that radical organizations ruin the image of Islam.”

Only 25 percent backed the implementation of Islamic Shariah law. While proponents believed Shariah improved society, those against it said that the strict religious laws were no longer compatible with modern conditions.

“The rest agreed that the Republic of Indonesia is not a religious state, and that Pancasila [the national political ideology] is already sufficient,” Ismail said.

“This counters claims from radical organizations that insist their jihad are legitimized by the people and the religion.”

Respondents indicated an awareness of the difference between radical Islam and terrorism, though by a slim margin.

As many as 31 percent believe that radical Islam and terrorism share the same goals, while 22 percent said that both groups have similar ways of reaching their goals. In addition, 27 percent believed that both groups had similar followers.

“It was interesting to see how slim the differentiation was between terrorism and radicalism,” Ismail told the Jakarta Globe.

“This means it is important for the BNPT [the National Counterterrorism Agency] to pay attention to radical organizations.”

According to him, deradicalization programs should not only be focusing on former terrorists, but also on members of radical organizations.

“Because the potential for radicals to transform into terrorists is very big,” Ismail said.

Regarding the dynamics of such organizations in the area, 52 percent said that radical organizations were gaining more and more followers, even though only 19 percent admitted to the existence of such organizations in the area.

“The respondents are also aware that radical organizations target youth and jobless people. Ten percent even acknowledged that Islamic boarding schools, or pesantren, could be fertile ground for radical idealism, and 24 percent said that forums for Koran studies were often used as ways to spread radical beliefs,” Ismail continued.

Most respondents urged the government to educate tolerance, and for radical organizations to invite preachers or speakers that support tolerance.

They also believed that moderate Islam organizations could do more to promote tolerance.

Last year, Setara conducted a similar survey to measure tolerance in the greater Jakarta area.

The survey showed that economic injustice was considered by 42 percent of those questioned to be the main cause of terrorism.

The Jakarta survey also showed that most people saw no connection between radical organizations and terrorism.