No Curfew During Ramadhan

On the second week of August, Moslems all over the world will start Fasting in the month of Ramadhan.

Last Saturday, Chairman of Moslem organization Nahdatul Ulama (NU) told members not to conduct any Curfew on entertainment places all over Indonesia during the Fasting month of Ramadhan which will start on the second week of August.

Considering that N.U is the largest Moslem organization in Indonesia, I hope that other Moslem organization here would also follow.this step. 

Please find below an news article about this that I have quoted from The Jakarta Globe.

Said Aqil Siradj, right, praying with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in this file photo, has called upon members of the Nahdlatul Ulama not to conduct sweepings of entertainment venues before the fasting month of Ramadhan. (Antara Photo/Widodo S. Jusuf)

NU Prohibits Members From Conducting Sweeps on Indonesian Entertainment Venues

The chief of Nahdlatul Ulama organization, or NU, has called on its members not to conduct sweepings on entertainment venues throughout Indonesia ahead of the Islamic fasting month.

“To keep the situation conducive during the fasting month NU members are called upon not to conduct violence or take the law into their own hands because sweeps or order operations on entertainment venues can only be carried out by the police or other law enforcement agencies,” 
NU’s general chairman Said Aqil Siradj said at the commemoration of the 87th anniversary of NU on Saturday.

“NU is an organization that is based on four pillars, namely the unitary state of Indonesia, the 1945 Constitution, the Bhineka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity) principles and Pancasila (the five-principle state ideology),” he said.

“If law enforcement agencies are weak we must encourage and support them,” he said.

He said NU members must follow the teachings of Prophet Mohammad when he established the state of Madinah. “The concept he used is not for establishing an Islamic state or an Arab state but a civilized state,” he said.

He said people could understand the concept by emulating his respect for other religions and promoting equality and consistency in enforcing the law against Muslims or non-Muslims.

“If we insist on conducting sweeps it means we are building a state within a state because we make our own rules,” he said.

In view of that he called on all people in the country to participate actively in realizing the four pillars and avoiding violence which has often occured in various parts in the country.

“Right now violence often happens during local elections and distribution of cash handouts to the poor. Some have even died during distribution of alms. This is very concerning and should never happen again,” he said.

Fatwa against Transvestites

Recently, leaders of Islamic Boarding Schools (Pondok Pesantren) across the Island of Java gathered in Kediri, East Java, and issued a Fatwa (Edict) banning Transvestites (Male wearing Female's dress) from Cutting and Styling Muslim woman's hair.

According to The Jakarta Globe, the Fatwa cited that Transvestites were Males, therefore forbidden for them to see and touch a woman who was neither their spouse nor relative.
One of the instigators of the Fatwa said that the hair is part of a woman's Aurat (part of body that must not be shown according to Islamic Law).

However, the Fatwa was questioned by a leader of the largest Muslim organization in Indonesia, i.e. Nahdatul Ulama, who said although Islam does not allow a man to touch a woman who is not his spouse or relative because it might cause temptation, but in this case it is different because the Transvestites are merely working.

Considering that most Transvestites make money by Cutting and Styling hair, many people feared that if they are not allowed, many of them might become prostitutes or criminals.

Although a Fatwa is not part of the Indonesian national legal system, thus cannot be legally enforceable, however considering that it was issued by leaders of Islamic Boarding schools respected by their followers, it would then be obeyed as a religious obligation.

Due to the above, I hope that the Department of Religious Affairs together with two of the largest Muslim organization i.e. Nahdatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah  would clarify this matter so as to avoid confusions.