| Submit your comments on this article |
| Southeast Asia |
| 'Bikinis and booze caused bombings' |
| 2005-10-12 |
| AUSTRALIANS had declared a moral war on Muslims in Indonesia with their drinking and skimpy clothes in Bali, the eldest brother of three of those responsible for the 2002 attacks said yesterday. Muhammed Khozin told The Australian at his home in Tenggulun, East Java, that his community didn't care about the October 1 Bali bombings because they were not linked to people from his village. Mr Khozin's younger brothers Amrozi and Mukhlas were sentenced to death and Ali Imron to life imprisonment for their roles in the attacks on the Sari Club and Paddy's bar, which killed 202 people, including 88 Australians. Mr Khozin said the behaviour of Westerners in his country was to blame for the radicalism adopted by his brothers. "Alcohol, bikinis, that kind of thing makes Muslims angry. Don't do that when visiting a country with a Muslim majority," he said. "I'm sorry, Australian culture makes war on morality. They come to Bali with bikinis, they make war on morality. Not physical war, morality war. Respect the culture and religion of Indonesia." His son, 19-year-old university student Afif, said there would be no end to terrorism while Australians continued going to Bali and behaving without respect for Muslim culture. He believed the first Bali bombing committed by his uncles was justified because it discouraged tourists in Bali. "If Muslims died in that action, the Muslims will go to heaven," he said. Afif said Muslims and Christians would only live side by side when Christians learned to respect Muslim culture. Mr Khozin runs the Al-Islaman boarding school in the village that he founded with his late father 30 years ago. Such schools, known as pesantren, are seen as a breeding ground for terrorists. He said if Canberra wanted to stop radicalism in Indonesia, it should teach Australians to be more respectful of Islam. Moreover, Australia could help fund facilities at Islamic schools like his, which are mainly in poor areas and are under-resourced, to help better educate Muslims in Indonesia. "Please give to us because maybe that's the way to make the relationship with Indonesia and Australia better," he said. He taught his students the concept of "dakwah", which means to confront people who do things that are wrong and tell them to stop. But he did not subscribe to the view of radicals that they should act to physically erase something they did not agree with. His brothers had a different view of Islam to his but he believed they were still good people. He called on the Indonesian Government to return them to their community, where they could be rehabilitated. "The community have a dream. If Amrozi came back here, he will do things like that." |
| Posted by:Throlunter Spase8018 |
| #12 Afif said Muslims and Christians would only live side by side when Christians learned to respect Muslim culture. What he means to say is that Muslims and Christians can only live in relative proximity if the Christians adopt a proper Dhimmi attitude towards muslims (i.e. recognizing the superiority of islam). I wonder if Australia is far enough away? I doubt that Bali continues to be majority Hindu for much longer. Like all majority Muslim countries, Indonesia is working to erradicate any religions that compete with Islam. Their govenment will say that "It's all lies", but the reality is that--as good muslims--they'll say and do anything to further islams aims. |
| Posted by: Elmeamble Sneatle3802 2005-10-12 20:33 |
| #11 need to drop these fools in the middle of a wet tshirt contest during spring break and watch his head explode. I'll take 'Afif' of Wild Turkey and 2 'dakwah' sandwiches please... |
| Posted by: SCPatriot 2005-10-12 17:54 |
| #10 They come to Bali with bikinis, they make war on morality. Not physical war, morality war. We should focus more on the "physical war" with these people, then. |
| Posted by: Secret Master 2005-10-12 16:46 |
| #9 Every time one of these fools opens thier mouth with this crap we gain in the struggle with them. Kill this useless waste of skin before he breeds. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet O´ Doom 2005-10-12 16:42 |
| #8 I've got three words for these idjits: "Democracy, whiskey, sexy!" |
| Posted by: Xbalanke 2005-10-12 16:11 |
| #7 Talking to these people is like talking to a bag of cement. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2005-10-12 15:41 |
| #6 "Australia could help fund facilities at Islamic schools like his, which are mainly in poor areas and are under-resourced, to help better educate Muslims in Indonesia". Right. The Aussies should pay money to people to teach children to hate their culture to the point of mass murder. Makes sense. Go away and send money. I guess you have to be Muslim to get it. |
| Posted by: Baba Tutu 2005-10-12 15:29 |
| #5 Afif said Muslims and Christians would only live side by side when Christians learned to respect Muslim culture. Yup, sounds Dhinmitude (SP) to me |
| Posted by: Cheaderhead 2005-10-12 15:01 |
| #4 Respect is extended only to those and that which is worthy of it. Contempt would be what he is asking for though he does not know he'd begged for it. |
| Posted by: MunkarKat 2005-10-12 14:45 |
| #3 I respect their culture and religion as much as they respect mine. Which is to say none. |
| Posted by: mmurray821 2005-10-12 14:38 |
| #2 "Respect the culture and religion..." It's difficult to respect a culture or religion that encourages detonation of explosives in areas packed with innocent people. But hey!...thats just me. |
| Posted by: DepotGuy 2005-10-12 14:05 |
| #1 But Bali is mainly Hindu and until the 70s, outside the cities, most of the women went topless. Hindus drink so that leaves bikinis. He morally prefers topless to bikinis or just want's topless back? |
| Posted by: 3dc 2005-10-12 13:54 |