By: Andari Nuri Zakiyah)*
Jakarta – CIDISS. Radicalism is often related to internal religious problems, while terrorism is a global phenomenon that includes criminal acts for specified political purposes and it requires a global action to encounter. However, radicalism is sometimes can turn into terrorism, although not all of them.
Radicalization in the name of religion is an issue raised recently along with the many religious movements which are systematic, organized, and synergistic. Religious groups often consider faction as a group with the correct ideology so that if there are issues concerning other areas such as political, social and cultural rights, they are not in accordance with their views, then they will not admit it and it leads to radicalization in the Muslim community.
The phenomenon of radicalism in Indonesia, which often makes Islam as a vehicle has become a complex matter since many years ago. As there is a strong motivation that radicalism is always associated with religious issues. They often call it as jihad to eradicate immorality, Amrozi initiated the Bali Blast. This was followed by other actions with similar objectives. The terrorists would argue that their action is jihad in the path of God to combat the forbidden things in their beliefs. They do not fear the state law on their anarchic actions, maybe in their minds is to uphold the God’s law. This shows that there is always a relevance between religion and radicalization that occurred during this time.
However, the government’s role in the deradicalization has also been so intense. The last few years since the government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono until right now handled by President Jokowi, radicalization action that triggered acts of terrorism are already considered to be a national enemy. Furthermore the government always takes the real action to combat as demonstrated when they knock the Santoso cs down. The government’s success in combating terrorism needs to be appreciated as an effort to create safe and prosperous society. (Anz)
)* The author is Jakarta Contributor