Supporting the Prohibition of Prohibited Community Organizations for Preachers from Appearing on TV
By: Ismail)*
The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission prohibits preachers affiliated with banned mass organizations from appearing on television. The community supports the ban so that television shows are able to provide educational and soothing impressions in the month of Ramadan.
Currently there are many preachers in Indonesia and they also lecture on television. Moreover, the fasting month will soon be approaching, where da’wah events always enliven Ramadan. Da’wah is not only performed after dawn but also before sunset and at noon. Many young preachers are giving lectures and there has been regeneration after the era of the late KH Zainuddin MZ.
In this regard, the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) has issued a ban for preachers from banned mass organizations or affiliated with radical and terrorist groups to appear on television. The regulation is stated in the KPI Circular on the Implementation and Supervision of Broadcasting for Broadcasting Institutions in the month of Ramadan 2022 which was issued Tuesday, March 15, 2022.
In the circular, one of the points is that the preachers who appear on TV must comply with the standards of the Indonesian Ulema Council. They also cannot be affiliated with banned and radical mass organizations. In addition, they must be credible and bring lectures with the breath of Pancasila.
People finally understand that this ban is good because it is tantamount to eradicating radicalism in Indonesia. Imagine if the preachers were freed to exist on TV, while he was a member of a radical group. So it is clear that the content of his da’wah is radicalism and terrorism, thus endangering the social condition of the community.
If there is no selection of preachers who are allowed to appear on TV, it will have a bad impact on society. There may be preachers who are popular but unfortunately always criticize the government and glorify jihad.
Preachers are supposed to speak well and politely. Shouldn’t religious teachings be like that? Teach peace to others as well as tolerance? Instead of inviting jihad, even though the war period was over since the Dutch left Indonesia. After all, they are fighting against their own brothers because they are both Indonesian citizens.
Arrangements for preachers to appear on television are not bans like the New Order era, but the government’s way of filtering broadcasts, so that no one gets lost with the teachings of radical groups. Don’t let radicalism thrive because its members are allowed to give lectures on TV.
The government does not prohibit religious lectures because religion and worship are human rights and are protected by law. However, what is emphasized here is the content of the lecture. Do not preach brutally, because the prophet himself also preached gently.
Moreover, Ramadan will soon be so that da’wah is shown on TV more often. If there is no selection of preachers, will our Ramadan be littered with invitations to jihad and intolerance? Of course it was terrible.
Ramadan is a holy month so it should not be littered with invitations like that. All preachers should preach happily and invite into goodness. Not being dragged into politics or radicalism and terrorism. They must remember that the main goal is to enlighten others, not to invite Indonesian citizens to become radicals.
The community fully supports the government’s steps to select the preachers who can appear on TV. Those who are proven to be radicals and terrorists should not be given a stage so as not to pollute TV broadcasts. Don’t let there be no selection and radicalism will mushroom in this country.
)* The author is a contributor to the Press Circle and Cikini Students
