Indonesia Islamic Leaders Split Over '2012'

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Last updated at 1:32 AM. Friday 30 July 2010

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Go to comments November 16, 2009

A vendor sells DVD copies of the film "2012" in Central Jakarta. (Photo: Trish Anderton, JG)

Indonesia Islamic Leaders Split Over '2012'

An Indonesian Council of Ulema branch in Malang, East Java, has issued a fatwa on the film “2012” because they consider it “improper and misleading.”

The disaster film is based loosely on the 2012 phenomenon, which predicts that cataclysmic or transformative events will occur in 2012, based on what is said to be the end date of the Mayan long-count calendar. The film stars John Cusack and is currently screening in Indonesian cinemas.

The Malang branch of the council, known as the MUI, placed a ban on its followers viewing the film and suggested that people disregard the movie’s description about the end of days.

However, Amidhan, the chairman of MUI in Jakarta, said there was nothing wrong with the movie.

“Personally speaking, there is no problem with the movie, as long as it is not associated with the end of the world because nobody knows about that. The movie is fiction, not real,” Amidhan told detik.com.

The MUI had not made a formal judgement about “2012” because they had not yet seen the movie. But they plan to review it soon, Amidhan said.

JG

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Comments

Simon P

9:35 AM November 18, 2009

I have no trouble at all in believing the world will end in 2012. Bring it on I say.

Valkyrie

6:14 AM November 18, 2009

Chris,

Initially, don't contradict yourself!

Your pleasantries about being happy for this portal to allow "free speech" blah! blah! blah! It's a lot of hot air coming from you Just another hypocrite to note for my scrap book.

However, I do like your sense of humour but..... wondering if that's all you have. And setting paradigms for others? Aha! I almost missed it...you're the "Deliverer."

Guess everybody knows the old adage about a rolling stone gathering no moss. There are many fools around us who have travelled the world twice or more over and are still fools. Because, that's what they are.....just idiots!

Chris,

Hey! I like your sense of humor. Oh by the way, is that all you have?

Now, don't you fret, got news from Asgard, Valhalla. Odin asked me to check on the 100 prophets he sent to you. The Valkyries in Asgard are waiting to welcome you as a hero. So, pack your stuff mate, you're going to make a long journey to enhance your knowledge.

ChrisH

7:15 PM November 17, 2009

I am so pleased to see the crew of this online news paper allowing all these comments.

And as long as these comments are normally stated, as they mostly are, this "free speech"-thingy that's going on here at JakGlobe is really a blessing.

I hope many more people will read and post here.

The articles have always been quite good, but there are many papers that have good, objective writing.

This comments thing is a definitive plus for JakGlobe.

ChrisH

7:03 PM November 17, 2009

Dear Valk...

Always something to say about other people's narrow mindedness.

Maybe it's just you, who has to travel to some other places first to get a more broad view of "the world".

It seems that your world is rather small.

Wondering what your thoughts are on "only masjid still standing in Aceh after Tsunami"-items.

Oh, wait, I don't.

There is no page without your comments!

Get a job! Go travel, do something!

Your comments, in general, have the same effect as these lamas's statements have; They only make things more interesting to buy/watch.

Guess you are pretty interested in watching the movie yourself now too ey?

Roland

3:24 PM November 17, 2009

MUI - Malang: NO

MUI - Jakarta: YES

Very clear "guidelines" are once again established!

For me personally - I prefer the FREEDOM OF CHOICE by myself, no (religious) organization needs to tell me what I am allowed to watch or not or censor anything - I am an adult and smart enough to recognize fiction and facts and I suppose so are most (if not all Indonesians). But I guess it is going to be as for the Miyabe issue, after the first public protests on the streets are STAGED the interest will rise drastically! It will for sure help the vendors of pirated movies a lot.

Actually it is easy - everyone who wants to watch this movie (which has anyway a bad IMDB rating) can purchase it in any mall (black market - hahaha) a

copy with shaky camera and terrible sound, filmed from the screen in a cinema or simply skip it.

aditya_pratama

3:01 PM November 17, 2009

It's a fiction.. I don't know why they get so worked up over it.. Perhaps they got nothing better to do..

fido dido

1:35 PM November 17, 2009

I guess from now on all Hollywood films must require "Halal" endorsement from MUI in order to screen in Indonesia. Or better yet, hire one of the MUI mullahs to be a consultant on what's kosher and what's not.

Geez Indo Talibans, lighten up a bit, will ya!

Valkyrie

6:10 AM November 17, 2009

Last night"someone" mentioned that it was not right that the four people, in the end found safety in a church whilst other buildings including Masjids were destroyed. He was quick though to mention that the film was produced in Hollywood and quite justifiable.

It's plain narrow mindedness with a touch of anti religious sentiment thrown in.

ps: I have not viewed this sci-fi movie. It's what it is, no?