Indonesian Shi’ite scholar:

Saudi petrodollars supporting Takfiri schools in Indonesia

Rasa – An Indonesian Shi’ite scholar has criticized Saudi Arabia for supporting Takfirism and the spread of religious extremism in his country saying: "In Indonesia, the Takfiri phenomenon has been extensively supported by Saudi petrodollars."

News ID: 2220

Date: 09 March 2015 - 21:12

RNA – In an exclusive interview with Rasa News Agency, Muhammad ibn Alawi, a Shi’ite scholar in Indonesia, emphasized that the cause of the sudden rise of the Takfiri movement throughout the Islamic world is part of a Zionist scheme to cause Muslims to forget the issue of Palestine.

“The Zionist regime and the United States are taking advantage of the Takfiri terrorists’ actions as they seek to create indifference in the Islamic world over the liberation of the holy city of Jerusalem (al-Quds) and Palestine from the claws of its occupiers,” he explained.

He added that Takfiri groups seek to change the holy Islamic meanings of the terms “jihad” and “martyrdom” in order to lead the Muslim youth astray. Thus, they influence and motivate them to use their religious sentiments in an illegitimate manner.

Speaking on the conditions in Indonesia, Muhammad ibn Alawi explained that Shi’ites and Sunnis have a friendly relationship, but the Takfiris, who falsely claim to be the representatives of the Sunni community, try to spread division among Muslim sects. Takfiris have no similarities with Sunnis because most Sunnis in Indonesia, as well as those in other countries, are peaceful and moderate. On the other hand, we should not forget that DAESH (ISIL) in Iraq and Syria have targeted non-Muslim religious minorities, as well as Sunnis who do not agree with their hijacked version of Islam.

The Indonesian scholar stressed upon need to fight against the Takfiri phenomenon though cultural and political means as well as through military means. He added that in the educational books produced by many Takfiri and Wahhabi organizations, they write of the legitimacy of shedding the blood of those of other religions and killing them.

“This must be stopped. They must not be allowed to train a new generation of Takfiris in the schools of Islamic countries,” Muhammad ibn Alawi stated, “On the other hand, greater propagation of moderate and correct Islamic beliefs among Muslims must be enjoined.”

Muhammad ibn Alawi said that more than 300 young Indonesians have travelled to Syria in recent years to combat the government of Bashar al-Asad alongside Takfiri terrorist groups. In Indonesia, the Takfiri phenomenon has been extensively supported by Saudi petrodollars. Saudi Arabia has spent large sums of money in this southeast Asian country in an attempt to nurture a new generation of Wahhabis and Takfiris in their extremist madrassahs (religious schools).

In conclusion, Muhammad ibn Alawi emphasized that Egypt’s renowned al-Azhar University and other respected religious institutions in the Muslim world must deal with provocative and abusive Saudi muftis. He said that despite their claims that they are fighting terrorism, these Saudi muftis are in reality actively supporting the activities of Takfiri groups throughout the Islamic world.

111/112