At ISAFIS biweekly discussion Saturday, 13 September 2014, we discussed the emergence of the religious extremist movement and how it would affect Indonesia as the biggest Moslem majority nation. The main focus is on ISIS,had been known as Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, is a movement made by extremist group thatseek to revolt political regimes with bad treatment to Moslems with ends to establish an united Islamic state (khalifah). Started with merging the border between Iraq and Syria, the final goal will be to make a global model consisting of the former Islamic states. ISIS is making the West, and also the rest of the world, uneasy. If by any means they can realize their goal, ISIS will most likely to disregard the very basic nature of Westphalian conception of a state, like the respect of territorial border. The establishment of ISIS creates false projections that fragmented Middle-East will become more prosperous and peaceful under the flag of ISIS. Well aside from the sweet talks, in reality ISIS had shownits agility inSyria to overthrow the Assad regime in Syria, which it claims doing many injustice social atrocities in the country.
So how does this ISIS work? Like many other religious extremist movements such as al-Qaeda and the Taliban, ISIS has a hierarchic organizational structure from main leader until the common members. From their large networks to many countries, especially in the Middle East, they are able to pool ‘partnership’ with transnational terrorists organizations. In carrying out its activities, they have faithful relationship with those organizations because of the same belief in their primary mission to unite the all Moslems in the world. On top of that, they are also supported by strong financial capital from large oil fields in their territory, or donors from their underground supporters. Behind the brave entrance to Middle East geopolitics, ISIS existence is recognized and supported by interrelated complex web of terrorists, criminals, and many black organizations alike.
However ISIS still has some unfinished business to resolve. First, they are not convincing enough with the concept of uniting Moslems under the flag of ISIS, which will get a rejection from many Islamic countries itself. Secondly, ISIS does not have a valid region as to start practicing their control and authority. They simply annexed their territory in Iraq and Syria surroundings.While the third,concepts of state sovereignty and international recognition that had beenbreached by ISIS is build the global public distrust about the future of this extremist movement.
The developments of ISIS also get mixed reaction from the public. There are the pros and cons with the presence of ISIS, and Indonesia is quite concern due to the society pronenessby ISIS influence, like the popular web recruiting mechanism making headlines earlier this year. Indonesia with its majority of population is Moslems, might become atarget of ISIS development in Asia. In a formal address, Government of Indonesia has banned residents from supporting ISIS, and reminded of its possibility as a threat to national integration. For residents in Indonesia, especially the youth, we should be smart and react rationally of ISIS issue itself. We have to be balanced in considering news related to religious issues, like the danger of extremist movement. Moreover, we had to differ between reading the religions’ holy passages, and substantial matter, and condemning many irresponsible people interpretations which breeds hatred and conflicts. No religion encourage wars. For that cause, youth participation is needed to be able to filter informations, so that we can learn and inform the society about the factors leading to growing danger of these extremist movements’ networks in its academic and objective sense.
* Summed up and written by Muhammad Imam, staff of ISAFIS Research & Development (R&D) division. Edited by Malinda Damayanti, Director of ISAFIS R&D division.