MA’RUF Amin of Indonesia’s Ulema Council, the country’s highest Islamic authority on Dec 23 said opulent Christmas decorations at shopping malls in the Muslim-dominated country could anger non-Christians.
Ninety percent of the country’s 240 million people are Muslim. However, that does not deter the shopping malls in Indonesia’s capital Jakarta from decorating their buildings with lights, bunting and nativity scenes.
“Christmas describes a certain religion, and if the religion advertises it too overtly – even thoush they have only a small number of followers – it will cause jealousy and anger from other groups,” Amin said.
Discounting the retailers’ justification that their decorations do not have any religious purpose other than attracting holiday shoppers to their malls, Amin said: “You can attract buyers without using religious symbols. Even the majority (Muslims) celebrate their big days modestly. How come a few followers who have plenty of money celebrate it the other way?”
Although Indonesia’s Muslim population is by and large moderate, hardliners are getting more vocal in their views, according to analysts.
The Wahid Institute, a pluralist group in Indonesia, recorded 133 challenges to religious freedom this year. Most of the attacks were directed against Christians and Ahmadiyyas, people owing allegiance to an Islamic sect.
Another group, the Moderate Muslim Society said it had recorded 81 cases of religious intolerance this year compared to 59 cases in 2009. Again, most of these cases related to curbing the rights of Christians and Ahmadiyyas.
