National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval said on Tuesday that extremism and terrorism is against the very meaning of Islam and opposition to such forces should not be painted as a confrontation with any religion. He sought civil society’s cooperation in countering the threat from ISIS-inspired individual terror cells, and returnees from theatres like Syria and Afghanistan.
He added that the ulema (clerics) have a leading role in educating people on the “original tolerant and moderate principles of Islam and countering extremism with progressive ideas and thought”.
Mr. Doval was speaking to a group of scholars and clerics from India and Indonesia on the “Role of Ulema in Fostering a Culture of Interfaith Peace and Social Harmony in India and Indonesia”.
The Indonesian delegation was led by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Mohammad Mahfud MD, who held a day-long dialogue with their Indian counterparts and other religious leaders at the India Islamic Cultural Centre on varied topics.
Mr. Doval said the Taj Mahal in Agra, and Hindu temples like Prambanan in Indonesia, were “a shining example of our tolerant and syncretic cultures.”
“We are both home to the world’s largest Islamic populations. Indonesia is the world’s largest Islamic country and India is home to the third largest Muslim population in the world,” he said.
“Extremism and terrorism are against the very meaning of Islam because Islam means peace and well-being. Opposition to such forces should not be painted as a confrontation with any religion. That is a ruse… countries like India and Indonesia, with their experience of multi-faith harmony and co-existence, can send a joint message to the world to eschew violence and conflict. ….Together, we should strive to propagate moderate virtues of Islam as a beacon of hope and cooperation for the entire world,” the NSA said.
He said that in a democracy, there is no place for hate speech, prejudice, propaganda, demonisation, violence, conflict, and misuse of religion for narrow ends.
“State institutions also need to come together in detecting and identifying potential negative influencers and share information to counter their activities. In this, ulemas, due to their deep connect with civil society, can play a vital role,” he said.
He said the ulema have a leading role in “educating the people on the original tolerant and moderate principles of Islam and countering radicalisation and extremism with progressive ideas and thought”.
“Our youth should receive special attention towards this end. They are often the primary target of radicalisation, but if their energies are nurtured in the right direction, they can emerge as harbingers of change and building blocks of progress in any society,” Mr. Doval said.
He said the ulema must also be adept in the use of technology and use it to thwart propaganda and hate.
“We have many times witnessed people who use their religion as a doctrine of absolute truth and are quick to blame others,” visiting Minister Mahfud MD, the NSA’s counterpart in Indonesia, said in his keynote address.
“We have to go out of this and improve. Religion, I think, should be a source of peace, not the reason for discord, conflict, or violence. Religion should be a unifying tool, not a divisive instrument,” Mr. Mahfud said.
The Minister said the world is facing difficult challenges, ranging from poverty, climate change, food insecurity, the COVID-19 pandemic, corruption, unemployment, armed conflicts, income inequality, and human rights abuses.
“Where are religions when the world fights against all these common concerns?” Mr. Mahfud asked.
