NU expects U.S. under Obama to be more objective in seeing Islamic world

Jakarta, NU Online
The Indonesia's biggest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) expected the United States under President-elect Barack Obama to be more objective in seeing Islamic world. If not, the superpower would not succeed in cultivating its relationship with Muslim countries.

General Chairman of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) KH Hasyim Muzadi made the remarks at a national workshop on the Moderation of Muslim Community in the Context of National Integrity at the Jakarta's Sofyan Hotel on Wednesday (18/2).<>

"We expect The United States to see Islam objectively," Hasyim who is also Secretary-General of the International Conference of Islamic Scholars said.

According to Hasyim, the United States should be able to differentiate between extremist and non-extremist movements because all resistance movements emerging from within Islamic community are extremist movements.

"If there were such 'commotions', never directly to name them extremist
s. If they (Muslims) are attacked and then fight, let's not say there is extremism within Islam," he said.

Hasyim gave an example dealing with conflicts in the Middle East especially between Sunnis and Shi'ites in Iraq. As for him, there had formerly been no conflicts between the two groups in the country. All of them could always coexist and live in peace.

"In Iraq, formerly both Sunnis and Shi'ites had never confronted one another. Instead, following the invasion (of U.S. to Iraq) they have started confronting one another," Hasyim said, adding they could possibly be confronted rather than confronting one another.

Hasyim said the U.S. should start focusing on its willingness from being a 'world police' to be a 'world father' so that its state budget could easily be managed and it would become a well respected nation and be respected by other nations. (rif)