Indonesian Clerics Issue Rulings On Elections

In Indonesia last weekend, the Indonesian Council of Ulema issued two controversial fatwas on political participation. The first was aimed at reversing low voter turnout in previous elections, according to an article in the Jakarta Globe. It held that it violates Islamic law for Muslims to abstain from voting in political elections-- so long as there is a qualified Muslim candidate for whom they can cast their ballot. The ruling went on to state that Muslims may not vote for non-Muslim candidates. The second ruling, reported yesterday by AKI, said that only a Muslim can be President of Indonesia. A Presidential election in Indonesia is scheduled for July. All the candidates are Muslims. Indonesia's constitution, however, does not restrict the presidency to members of any particular religious group. Fatwas have no binding legal force in Indonesia, but they are influential for religious Muslims.