Malang, 24 December 2017
Some Muslims have a very weak faith. Because of that, they force other people to "respect" their faith so that their faith won't get eroded. The form of "respect" in here is enforcement, oppression, and presecution to other people to follow their rules.
Firstly, in every Ramadhan (fasting-month), they don't allow any food stalls and restaurants to open during the day. They argue it is to respect Muslims who are fasting. They also claim that opening the food stalls and restaurants means supporting cheated Muslims who don't want to fast.
However, practicing religion is a personal business. Moreover, the order to close the shop is an oppression to the shop owners and to the other people who don't fast. What are their rights to force the other people to follow their rules?
Secondly, other religions (except Islam) are (usually) not allowed to have a religious activity in their neighbourhood. Meanwhile Muslims can freely have "pengajian" (Quran Recital/ Lecture) in their neighbourhood, but not with other religions.
They say, other religions may have a hidden agenda to spread their faith to Muslims. They are afraid that some Muslims will be influenced and will convert their faith into other religions.
Thirdly, some Muslims are trying so hardly to banish the other perspective of life. They don't like other people to drink alcohol, they don't like other people to live together without any marriage relationship, and they don't like other people to have same-sex relationship.
They are afraid their kids will be dragged into such way of life. Therefore, they blame those people and they try to get rid of them by prosecuting them.
What I see is that their faith is so fragile. Instead of finding the reasons to strengthen their own faith, they prefer to oppress other people's beliefs. They don't want other people's beliefs erode their faith.
Having a faith is supposed to be a very personal choice. Everyone should have their own decision. But this rule does not apply for Muslims. Muslims should keep their eyes on other Muslims (especially to their family members) and make sure if they don't lose faith. That's why they enforce their religious rules harshly and enforcefully.
When I was a kid, Islam was internalised very strictly to me, by my father as well as by my environment. I didn't have any choice to fairly consider other faith to follow. I was indoctrinated that Islam is perfect and has no fault. Opting out from Islam is a huge mistake and unforgiveable sin.
If Muslims are honest to themselves and widely open the chance to their members to choose whatever faith they genuinely believe without any oppression or judgment, I strongly believe that not all Muslims are really sure about their current faith.
However, the current Islam makes impossible for them to opt out from Islam. Islam is designed so that their members can't run away or consider other faiths. They say there is no coercion in choosing Islam, but the facts say differently.
