Radicalism born from misinterpretation: Religious expert

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Mon, 07/20/2009 4:02 PM | National

In the wake of attacks of two suicide bombers who detonated bombs at the JW Marriot and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta on Friday, a prominent religious figure said radicalism was born from individuals' misinterpretations of religious teachings.

"Thus, if a Muslim decides to blow himself up and take innocent people’s lives with him, we cannot deem that such an act represents Islam," Nadhlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Hasyim Muzadi said during an inter-religion prayer near the Friday bomb sites in Kuningan, Central Jakarta, on Monday.

"Indonesians are victims of misinterpretation that has given birth to acts of terrorism."

Prabowo Subianto, the running mate of trailing presidential candidate Megawati Sukarnoputri said there were only a few radicals in Indonesia.

"But they are capable of brutally devastating the country. We must remain alert," he said. (hdt)

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