Why was Indonesian scholar Ulil Abshar Abdalla barred from entering Malaysia?

Question

Accepted Answer

Ulil Abshar Abdalla Barred from Malaysia Due to Concerns Over 'Liberal' Islamic Teachings

Indonesian scholar Dr Ulil Abshar Abdalla was denied entry into Malaysia because the government believed his "liberal" ideas posed a risk of swaying Malaysian Muslims away from established Sunni teachings. Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamil Khir Baharom stated that Ulil was attempting to dictate Malaysia's practice of Islam, which the authorities deemed contrary to the nation's adherence to Sunni Islam.
Concerns Over Islamic Doctrine

Datuk Seri Dr Jamil Khir Baharom, the minister overseeing Islamic affairs, articulated the government's rationale for barring Dr Ulil Abshar Abdalla. He expressed that Ulil's aim was to influence Malaysian Muslims and deviate them from their Sunni Islamic foundations through what were described as "liberal" interpretations. This, according to Jamil Khir, represented an attempt to dictate Malaysia's religious practices.
Allegations of Interference with Faith

Jamil Khir further elaborated that Ulil's presence and potential discourse were viewed as an obstruction to the faith upheld by the Malaysian government and its populace. He specifically stated that "One man cannot come in to obstruct the faith of the whole government," underscoring the perceived threat to the nation's religious status quo. The minister also cited that Indonesian authorities had previously prevented Ulil from disseminating his views, suggesting a precedent for such restrictions.
Criticism of the Ban's Justification

Former de facto law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim strongly criticised the decision, labelling it a "primitive show of power" and "shameful." Zaid argued that the topic Ulil was scheduled to address—combating the jihadist menace, particularly the Islamic State (IS) group—did not constitute a threat to public order. He contended that such a ban revealed a "low and pathetic quality of our leaders’ mentality" and represented an abuse of power that would stunt critical thinking among Malaysian Muslims.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

Why was Indonesian scholar Ulil Abshar Abdalla barred from entering Malaysia?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends