Indonesian intelligence agency uncovers mosques spreading radicalism to government workers
- The Indonesian State Intelligence Agency found imams at some 41 places of worship in one Jakarta neighbourhood alone preaching extremism
Dozens of Indonesian mosques that cater to government workers are spreading radicalism and calling for violence against non-Muslims, the country’s intelligence agency said on Monday.
They were the deadliest terror attacks in about a decade and once again put religious tolerance in the world’s biggest Muslim majority nation in the spotlight.
The Indonesian State Intelligence Agency said on Monday that it had investigated about 1,000 mosques across the Southeast Asian archipelago since July.
It found that imams at some 41 places of worship in one Jakarta neighbourhood alone were preaching extremism to worshippers – mostly civil servants who work at nearby government ministries.
Some clerics also called on the faithful to commit violence on behalf of IS – which claimed the May bombing attacks in Surabaya – and spread hatred or vilify Indonesia’s minority religions, which include Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism.
“The majority of people who go to these mosques are government workers so that’s why this is alarming,” said intelligence agency spokesman Wawan Purwanto.
“These are people who are running the country.”
Terrorist attacks a wake-up call for Indonesia and the region
The agency did not release details about what it found at hundreds of other mosques covered by its investigation. But it said that it also found worrying signs of radicalism at seven university campuses.
The spy agency’s investigation was sparked by an independent anti-terrorism expert’s report last year that found imams at dozens of mosques across Indonesia were expressing intolerance and support for IS.
“We have to avoid this because we don’t want people in Indonesia fighting against each other – that will lead to (bad) things,” Purwanto said.
Indonesia has strengthened its anti-terror law to give authorities more power to arrest suspects in the wake of the Surabaya attacks. But Purwanto said the agency would take a soft approach to dealing with radical imams by trying to convince them to spread a more peaceful message.
Jakarta-based terrorism expert Sidney Jones said the agency should go beyond just talking with clerics about their sermons.
“Generally it’s not enough to talk to the preacher – you have to get to the mosque development committee and look at (who is behind) the financing,” she said.
“And you have to understand why there is support from the local community.”