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The strong and calculated movement against Islam and Islamic values in
Medan and neighbouring cities of North Sumatra, Indonesia, is becoming
more evident and obvious for those who look closely. The Chinese
population of those cities are working in complete cooperation with
one-another to achieve the breakdown of the religion, starting with the
moral standards of the Muslim women.
Hijab
Hijab, or what is called Jilbab in Indonesia, is
one of the main targets. There are many instances of young Muslim women
removing their Hijab for employment purposes and after having been exposed
they feel too ashamed to ever wear it again. Due to the dire need for work
and wages amongst the population, the Chinese Managers and owners of
businesses, control and manipulate their
employees into compromising their religion, Islam.
Employment
One example of this was when I personally
experienced this type of discrimination in January 2002. I was informed by
a local man of the availability of an English teaching position
with the Phoenix International Language Centre* in Tebing
Tinggi, under the direction of the Chinese manager, Mr. Edison Lo.
Mr Lo spoke directly with me over the telephone
whereupon I inquired into the job description and facilities available.
During this conversation I informed Mr. Lo that I am Muslim with which he
did not indicate any problem. He invited myself and my family to be taken
to see the job and facilities in Tebing Tinggi, which is approximately a 2
hour drive from Medan.
Mr. Lo organised a taxi to take my
family to Tebing
Tinggi on Friday 4th January 2002. Upon arrival, Mr. Lo showed us the
Language Centre, discussed the job description, showed us the basic
curriculum plan and two class rooms and discussed transportation options for
travel between Medan and Tebing Tinggi.
Upon request, Mr Lo then
showed us the promised accommodation, which had been flooded and was
unavailable and inappropriate. We then looked at alternative
accommodation. Mr Lo then bought us lunch after Sholatul Jumaat. After a
large meal, the taxi driver was paid by Mr Lo to drive us back to Medan.
Remove All Cover and Islamic Dress
Upon arriving tired and hungry by 5pm, we were approached by
a local
man who said in Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian language) that Mr Lo had
phoned him while we were en-route and expressed that he had a problem with
my Islamic dress and Hijab and asked if I could remove all my cover and
Islamic dress.
The message was passed on to me that if I wished to accept the position
that I would be required to take off all my modest clothing associated with my
religion, Islam. I asked why he had not spoken directly to me and it was
disclosed that Mr Lo had stated that he was too scared to speak to me directly
concerning the issue.
Disgust at the Suggestion
I then proceeded to say that I did not want the job and I was not
interested in working there with that man due to my commitment to my
religion and utter disgust at the suggestion. I began to leave and my
Mother also stated to the people that I could not remove my hijab.
This discriminatory message was very inappropriately delivered to me in
a public restaurant in the front of 3 Muslim women, my entire family and
many men who all became strongly involved, upset and effected in many ways
by the incident. Instead of rejecting the job on account of this
discrimination, the Chinese man had expected me to remove all my Islamic dress.
[edited T, 9th October, 2002]
Influence His other Muslim Staff Members
My family and myself departed after which we received a phone call
whereupon the Chinese manager, Mr Lo, spoke to my sister and said he had a
problem with my wearing Islamic dress because it would influence his other
Muslim staff members to also want to wear Islamic modest clothing. He then
stated that on Tuesdays and Wednesdays his staff were expected to wear a
uniform, which he had not at all discussed with us while in Tebing Tinggi.
Mr. Lo was told that his actions were discriminatory and that I was not
interested in the position.
The deliverance of that shocking message to myself and my family in
public left us all feeling stripped naked in public and this has not only
insulted us, but it had directly attacked and insulted the religion.
Movement to Destroy Respect for Islamic Dress
This example is one of many where young Muslim women are told to remove
their Islamic dress, which they often do. This movement has deteriorated
the respect for Islamic dress from the Muslim women themselves as they
acculturalize to what they see as modern day rather than holding strong to
the tenants of their religion.
Medan Riots of 1998
Prior to the fall of ex Indonesian President Suharto, the predominantly
Christian students of the University of North Sumatra (U.S.U.) staged
peaceful demonstrations against the governmental regime. The 3rd day of
demonstrating turned into riots as the greater population of Medan from
all ethnic groups also became involved and the Chinese people, consisting
of 1/3 the population, became the primary target. Many Chinese died, with
businesses and properties burned and looted, resulting in many fleeing to
safer destinations such as Singapore.
The Chinese of Medan today are still living inside the memory of these
1998 riots. If a businessman is to drop off goods in a Muslim area, he
refuses to get out of his darkly tinted windowed car in fear for his
safety. They each carry a hand phone and only deal with each other, never
dealing with any Muslim business, even if it is only to buy drinking
water. The streets surrounding Mosques are declared unsafe by the Chinese
and visitors to the city believe these statements to be true.
[image removed 9th October, 2002]
The
Muslims have been solely blamed for the events of 1998 by the Chinese when
it is clearly documented that the original demonstrations were not
initiated by Muslims. Once again, it is the Muslims who are defending
themselves and their religion, Islam, and being unjustifiably targeted and
blamed under false and unproven accusations.
The number of Muslim women wearing Hijab in Medan is now as low as
approximately 10% as compared to the very real contrast across the Malacca
Straights in Malaysia where nearly the whole population of Muslim women
wear Hijab and Islamic dress.
This is clearly a Medan specific problem, which can only be attributed
to the events of 1998 fuelled by the American incident and the Chinese
war on Islam in Medan.
*Phoenix International Language
Centre
Jl. Dr. Sutomo No 28-A Perg. F. Tandean Lt 3
Tebing Tinggi
Sumatera Utara
Indonesia
Editors Note:
An unedited copy of the above complaint against the individuals involved was sent to
the respective Consul.
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