Kyai Haji Abdurrahman Wahid, former president of Indonesia, denounces Islamic extremism. He warns of the objectives of the "extremists" and of the consequences to all people including Muslims and the West if their vision is allowed to be realized.

Washington Post : All of humanity, whether Muslim or non-Muslim, is threatened by the forces of Islamist extremism. It is these extremists, masquerading as traditional Muslims, who angrily call for the death of Abdul Rahman or the beheading of Danish cartoonists. Their objective is raw political power and the eventual radicalization of all 1.3 billion Muslims worldwide. Western involvement in this "struggle for the soul of Islam" is a matter of self-preservation for the West and is critical given the violent tactics and strength of radical elements in Muslim societies worldwide.

People of goodwill of every faith and nation must unite to ensure the triumph of religious freedom and of the "right" understanding of Islam, to avert global catastrophe and spare millions of others the fate of Sudan's great religious and political leader, Mahmoud Muhammad Taha, who was executed on a false charge of apostasy. The millions of victims of "jihadist" violence in Sudan -- whose numbers continue to rise every day -- would have been spared if Taha's vision of Islam had triumphed instead of that of the extremists…

…The greatest challenge facing the contemporary Muslim world is to bring our limited, human understanding of Islamic law into harmony with its divine spirit -- in order to reflect God's mercy and compassion, and to bring the blessings of peace, justice and tolerance to a suffering world.

Others : Willisms and Publispundit.

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(Jakarta, Indonesia) Many people may recall last October's barbaric beheadings of three Christian schoolgirls in Indonesia. Well, here's the latest news on the case.

From TheJakartaPost.com:

Seven suspected Islamic terrorists have confessed to beheading three Christian schoolgirls on Indonesia's Sulawesi Island, police said Wednesday.

The seven detained suspects confessed under questioning that they planned and carried out the Oct. 29 beheadings in the Central Sulawesi town of Poso, police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Rudi Sufahriadi told The Associated Press.

Another girl was wounded but spared by the assailants, he said.

Two of the suspects also say they have ties to Noordin Top, regarded as a key leader of the al-Qaeda-linked group Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), according to Central Sulawesi police chief Brig. Gen. Oegroseno.

Let's hope that the murdering criminals are treated harshly but, if history is an indicator, they likely won't be. Indonesia is a Muslim nation and it has customarily given jihadists insultingly lenient punishment.

From Interested-Participant.

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On Hugh Hefner's 80th birthday, Playboy magazine went on sale in Muslim Indonesia.

From the BBC:

An Indonesian version of Playboy has gone on sale in the world's most populous Muslim nation.

A spokesman for the magazine, which has promised to tone down its erotic photographs, said copies would be available in major cities on Friday.

The launch has drawn criticism from Muslim clerics, who condemn the magazine as a corrupting influence.

Earlier this year there were street protests in many towns when the magazine announced its plans to launch.

Nevertheless, here's wishing Hugh Hefner a "Happy Birthday!" and congratulations on Playboy magazine's successful launch in the Muslim nation of Indonesia.

As an interesting side note, the last I heard, Playboy is still prohibited from being sold on military bases in the U.S. I guess this means that Muslim suppression of free speech doesn't hold a candle to good American political correctness. (H/T Pirate's Cove)

From Interested-Participant.

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If these guys are guilty of involvement in a massacre that killed over 200--mostly women and children, let me volunteer my services for the firing squad. However, the Indonesian court system is based on Islamic law and, as we have noted here on several occasions, is a complete sham. Not a single Muslim has been brought to justice for the killing of Christians during the same period--even though far more Christians were killed in the sectarian violence than Muslims. Not. A. Single. One.

Dog Pundit has more. more...

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Moderate Muslims, our allies. Reuters:

Eleven percent of the people in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, believe suicide attacks against civilian targets are sometimes justifiable, a survey said on Thursday.

The survey also found that almost half the respondents back stoning as a punishment for adulterers while support for other extreme elements of Islamic sharia was also significant.

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(Jakarta, Indonesia) The planned publication and sale of Playboy magazine in majority-Muslim Indonesia has prompted angry protest (pic) from several groups. It's believed the magazine will destroy the morality of young people and the nation.

From Antara News:

The Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) Chairman Tarman Azzam has said every effort should be taken to prevent the publication of the Indonesian version of playboy magazine or the sellers should be arrested should the pornographic magazine reaches the children.

"If the magazine publication comes into being and their circulation reaches the children, the producers as well as the sellers should be arrested, and bring them to the court to make them afraid," Tarman said after inaugurating the temporary board members of the PWI here on Tuesday.

Several rejections to the planned publication of the Playboy magazine among other things came from Youth Affairs Minister Adhyaksa Dault, and the country's two largest Muslim organizations respectively Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).

Interestingly, the Indonesian public protest and debate of a free press issue is in stark contrast to the way the Chinese communists deal with free speech. In Indonesia, a democratic (albeit Muslim) country, the controversy is open to public discourse and, presumably, a decision will be made in a democratic manner. Conversely, China, a police-state dictatorship, yesterday specified the manner which Google would censor information on Internet searches. No debate and no discussion allowed. It makes no difference what the public wants in China.

The Indonesian version of Playboy was licensed in November 2005 and is planned to hit the news stands starting in March for 40,000 rupiah (about $4.30).

Companion post at Interested-Participant.

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(Palu, Indonesia) The Indonesian government issued warnings that terrorist attacks against Christians were likely during the holiday season. And it has happened.

From the BBC:

At least eight people have been killed and 45 hurt by a bomb blast at a market in Indonesia's Central Sulawesi province (map), police say.

Witnesses in the town of Palu reported seeing bodies lying on the ground after hearing a deafening blast.

The bomb exploded in the busy morning hours at a stall selling pork in a largely Christian part of the town. [Added map link - ed.]

The bomb was packed with nails and ball bearings. Another bomb was reportedly found and defused. Bloodied wounded were carried to passing cars and taken to the hospital.

No specific responsibility for the attack has been declared, but the province's Christian population has been repeatedly attacked by Muslims. It's reported that twelve people have been apprehended in connection with the attack.

I'm certain the attack wasn't prompted only because Christians eat pork. Eating pork just triggers the hatred that fanatical Muslims have for non-believers in Islam. In that regard, fanatical Muslims are not that much different from fanatical vegans, although, to my knowledge, the vegans haven't resorted to murder. Food despots are, first and foremost, despots.

Companion post at Interested-Participant.

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(Jakarta, Indonesia) Near-simultaneous bomb blasts ripped through popular tourist areas of Kuta and Jimbaran Beach on the Indonesian island of Bali on Saturday killing at least 23 persons and wounding at least 35 foreign tourists. Details remain sketchy.

Two explosions hit beachside area seafood restaurants at dinner time and minutes later an explosion struck a popular shopping area, Matahan Square.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono strongly condemned the bombings in a televised address: "These are clearly terrorist attacks because the targets were random and public places."

[Update 1500 EDT]

Xinhua now reports that at 30 people are dead. In another report, the blasts are being blamed on the fuel oil price hikes of an average of 126 percent instituted Saturday. Professor Budiatna of the University of Indonesia observed that opposition groups no longer demonstrate because the government ignores them.

"They pressured (the government) by resorting to terrors. Their message is to lower the fuel oil price or else the terror acts will continue," the observer added.

[Update 1545 EDT]

The BBC reports that over 100 are wounded.

From Aljazeera.com:

A government spokesman, Dino Djalal, said up to six bombs exploded at different locations.

Local media said police discovered a number of unexploded devices.

Companion at Interested-Participant.

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