JAKARTA, 26 February 2004 — Indonesian Vice President Hamzah Haz yesterday described the US-led invasion of Iraq as “terrorism against all mankind” as he closed a three-day international conference of Islamic scholars.
“An aggression against a sovereign country, like that by the United States, Great Britain (and) all their allies against Iraq, is not only against democracy, human rights and humanitarianism but also represents terrorism against all mankind,” he said.
The conference opened on Monday with stinging attacks by President Megawati Sukarnoputri and Islamic leader Hasyim Muzadi on the US-led invasion. Haz ended the meeting on the same note.
“When the United Nations is no longer able to restrain the yearning of strong states’ leaders to kill harmless, innocent (people) and devastate a civilization, I’m very sure that the voice of worldwide Muslim scholars has more value still in the global endeavor to halt the violence by strong countries against the weak,” Haz said.
A conference closing statement condemned terrorism and called on Muslims worldwide to practice moderation and tolerance.
“We strongly condemn acts of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reject the identification of terrorism with any particular religion,” said the statement, dubbed the Jakarta Declaration.
The campaign against terrorism could only be won through comprehensive measures including addressing the root causes such as poverty, injustice and intolerance, the declaration said.
The conference held in the world’s largest Muslim-populated nation was attended by some 300 Islamic scholars from 49 countries. It was organized by Indonesia’s largest Islamic organization, the Nahdlatul Ulama which Muzadi heads, and by the government.
“We do not object to the (world) role played by the United States at this time. However, that role must not be implemented in a repressive way,” said Haz, who heads the country’s largest Islamic party. “Developing countries only ask fair treatment from the world’s policeman.”
A statement from the conference’s co-chairmen urged Muslims to have the courage to reform their traditions and to face up the problems affecting modern society. It stressed the need to develop Islamic curricula that promoted peace, tolerance and moderation.
Conference delegates said the backwardness of some Muslim countries, including their women, was due to traditions that were contradictory to the teaching of Islam.
The scholars “support all undertakings to enhance the capacity and the role of women in the Muslim community in accordance with Islamic values for the betterment of mankind”.
The Jakarta Declaration also called for dialogue between followers of different faiths and nations. Delegates agreed to establish a secretariat in Jakarta and to meet once every two years, said Muzadi.
Morocco is willing to host the meeting in 2006, Muzadi said.
