Priorities. Sharia Alert from modern, moderate Indonesia: “Indonesia: Prominent cleric says sharia highest law,” from AKI, March 26 (thanks to Twostellas):
Makassar, 26 March (AKI/Jakarta Post) – A prominent cleric from Indonesia’s biggest Muslim organisation, the Nahdlatul Ulama, says that Islamic sharia law should take precedence over laws passed by the parliament.
“The power of positive law is not permanent because everything in the world is not permanent, therefore no law can permanently take effect,” Saifuddin Amsir told the NU’s congress in Makassar, South Sulawesi on Friday.
“Sharia is made based on consensus of Muslim communities,” said Amsir, who is a member of the NU’s law-making body.
Rejection of sharia is the main challenge facing Muslim clerics and scholars (ulema), he said.
“It’s the challenge for ulema and clerics. They must be able to withstand criticism and rejection.
“That’s the risk of being an Islamic teacher but they must not afraid since they follow the way of Allah,” he said.
Tarek Fatah, call your office:
Earlier, participants of the NU congress concluded that sharia law does set a minimum age to marry.
The NU congress opposed Indonesia’s child protection and marriage laws which sets the marriageable age at 16 for women and 19 for men.
Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Tuesday praised the organisation for its moderation and urged it to continue to reject extremism and violence….