Still doubting whether the Koran is the Constitution of Islam or not? Incidentally, Indonesia is one of those (increasingly fewer) Muslim nations apologists like to point out as being "moderate."
"Aceh candidates must take Koran test to run: KIP," from the Jakarta Post, September 8:
The Aceh Independent Election Committee (KIP) emphasized Sunday that the planned Koran proficiency test for legislative candidates in the province would determine each candidate's eligibility to contest the election."Candidates who are absent or fail to take the Koran proficiency test will have their candidacy canceled and will not be able to continue their campaign," KIP candidacy working group chairman Yarwin Adi Dharma told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
"The proficiency test is a requirement each candidate has to undergo to run in the 2009 election."
[...]
There are three categories in the test, and each candidate must get at least 50 points to pass. Candidate[s] will be required to read verses from the Koran for five minutes.
"The standard is not that high. I believe all people claiming to be Muslim can pass the test," Yarwin said.
"We also have a different standard for candidates who converted to Islam less than one year ago. They only have to read and recognize Arabic characters even though they may not be able to read the Koran fluently."
Yarwin said non-Muslim candidates were not required to take the test.
There is only one non-Muslim candidate, who is representing the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS), from Southeast Aceh.
Yarwin said non-Muslim candidates were not required to take the test.
For now, that is. Hey, we should have a similar test for candidates in the USA! The difference is that our test would be on the parts about military jihad, the rights of conquest, the murders of poets, and so forth.
Originally, I thought a /sarc tag would be appropriate, but am now not so sure.
Maybe Obama should run for office in Indonesia.
ROFLMAO Charlie!!!!!
This is the kind of thing even Indonesians expect from Aceh. I have an Ozzie friend who is training Indonesians in Bomb disposal techniques and he said that all other Indonesians know that they're "crazy" in Aceh. Lovely chap, but like nearly all others he still doesn't have a good grasp on the significance and depth of the problem.
Did not Obama lived when he was a little boy in Indonesia because he had a step father at the time who was an Indonesian Muslim?
"The standard is not that high. I believe all people claiming to be Muslim can pass the test," Yarwin said.
I bet every poster here could pass the test, even if the standard was higher. If you are willing to convert...Learn a little Arabic and move to Aceh, you qualify for public office.
I don't think I can read the Quran for five full minutes without falling asleep. My record so far is three...