Islam’s Mark is War Against Western Civilization

By Sigrid Weidenweber

Twenty- five years ago, my husband and I travelled through parts of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.  At the time the three countries were models of tolerance and cooperation between multiple religions within their countries.  The laws and political tenets adhered to stemmed from Western Civilization.  Living was easy and everyone prospered.

However, even then, young Malay men told us that the Muslims had out-populated the native Malays, had attained the presidency and were flexing their Sharia-muscle.  “It started incrementally,” they said.  First, no alcohol for the country.  No drugs and no smoking were next on the agenda, followed by sharia-garb for women and even for women of other religions.

As before, the requirements were not severe, but that changed.  My husband I went home, wondering what Islam held in store for the region in the foreseeable future.

Now we know!  Benedict Rogers reports in in the Wall Street Journal of September 18, 2018, about Indonesia under the head-line “Extremism Advances in the Largest Muslim Country”.  He writes that Indonesia, having long stood as a role model for religious pluralism, is changing.  Political Islam with its violent extremism has grown roots in society and it is feared it may also do so in the government.

This belief has taken hold because Joko Widodo has chosen as his running mate for next year’s election Ma’ruf Amin, a 75-year old cleric with a history of religious intolerance. Some factions thought this choice might insulate the cleric from extremist factions, however no such guarantees can be given.

Ma’ruf Amin has used fatwas claiming blasphemy to incarcerate Christian politicians in jail and persecute minorities.  So, one must ask, why Widodo included him in his government team.  Could it be that he is afraid of the power of this cleric who is inciting the masses?

Widodo’s rival, retired general Prabowo Subianto, is playing identity politics, radicalizing the masses.  Therefore, adding another radical, Amin, to the government will do nothing to deter Subianto.  To the contrary, he might have found a future ally in the government.  As mister Benedict Rogers reports, Amin signed a fatwa against the Ahmadiyya Islamic sect which is regarded as heretical by other Muslims.  Rogers met with officials of this sect and they tell of the closure of their mosque and persecution.

Mr. Amin has also been the force behind restrictions on building other places of worship, proposals to criminalize homosexuality, and support for female genital circumcision. This type of pressure, enforced through extremist groups, has resulted in local authorities closing hundreds of Christian churches.

Reports from school children tell us they are taught that infidels are kafirs and must be killed.  On May 13th a family of suicide bombers attacked three churches in Surabaya within minutes of each other.  Rogers reports that the parents strapped explosives onto the backs of their daughters, ages 6 and 8, and onto their teenage sons.  13 people were killed.

What clearly can be discerned is that Indonesia’s pluralism is under threat from Extreme Islam, and it seems to be unraveling.  Another example that radical Islam always sleeps just below the surface of any multi-cultural society containing Muslims.  It comes to the fore when politicians fighting for dominance call on religious fervor to gain power.

Sigrid Weidenweber grew up in communist East Berlin, escaping it using a French passport. Ms. Weindenweber holds a degree in medical technology as well as psychology and has course work in Anthropology.  She is co-founder of Aid for Afghans.  Weindenweber has traveled the world and lived with Pakistani Muslims, learning about the culture and religion. She is a published author and lecturer.

You can find her books on Amazon.com

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