Gus Dur: Swearing on Quran is un-Islamic

PETALING JAYA, Aug 18 — Abdurrahman Wahid, the former president of Indonesia and influential leader of Islamic group Nahdlatul Ulama, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim need not swear on the Quran as it is un-Islamic and there is no such requirement under Islamic laws.

Gus Dur, as he is popularly called, also said the recent swearing on the Quran by Anwar’s former aide Saiful Bukhari Azlan was un-Islamic. “I challenge anyone to prove the reverse. They better open the law books of Islam.”

Saiful has accused Anwar of sodomy and the de facto leader of PKR has been charged in court. Hearing is set for Sept 10.

“I think the accusation of sodomy is wrong. I have known him for 15 years. I believe totally in him,” Gus Dur said at a press conference at PKR headquarters here today.

He added that it was enough for Anwar to take the matter to the syariah courts and to say, “By God, I did not do such a thing.”

The PKR adviser had earlier last month at the Federal Territories Islamic Affairs Department filed a qazaf report which charged Saiful with making false allegations.

Gus Dur said that while his views were personal, they were shared by “many Indonesians” and the reason why other leaders had not spoken out was because of a “silent majority rule”.

Despite stepping down as president of Indonesia in 2001, Gus Dur is still the chairman and de facto leader of the Parti Kebangkitan Bangsa’s (PKB) syura council. PKB is the political arm of the highly influential Nahdlatul Ulama, an Islamic group that commands a following of over 30 million.

Gus Dur said that the former deputy prime minister’s chances of winning the Permatang Pauh by-election and becoming prime minister were “very good” and that he would be meeting Anwar on Sunday and again after the results of the by-election.

Meanwhile, he poured scorn on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s execution of Islam Hadhari, saying that it lacked honesty and does not condone democracy.

“He acts in one way and says another,” Gus Dur said, adding that Anwar would make a more democratic leader.

-TMI