ID :
19791
Tue, 09/16/2008 - 19:44
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/19791
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MUI CALLS ON PEOPLE TO CHANNEL TITHES THROUGH AUTHORIZED BODIES
Jakarta, Sept 16 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI) called on the people to channel their tithes through authorized bodies in order to prevent a recurrence of the Pasuruan tragedy in which 21 people died in a stampede to reach a tithe distribution point.
"Take a lesson from this tragedy and don't distribute tithes by inviting crowds but deliver them to those who deserve the alms," MUI Chairman for economic, tithe and alms affairs Amidhan said here on Tuesday.
He said obligatory alms payers who had no time to deliver the tithes to those who deserve it, could channel their donations through official tithe and alms bodies.
Amidhan said alms were voluntary gifts but tithes were obligatory as they basically belonged to the poor so that tithes should be distributed through a good mechanism, not through a way that could cause an undesired tragedy.
He however admitted that the law on tithes did not require tithe payers to distribute the obligatory alms through professional bodies.
"They are free to distribute it directly to the poor, or through religious teachers, mosques or other bodies," he added.
Twenty-one women were killed and dozens of others injured in a stampede in the remote East Java district of Pasuruan on Monday as crowds rushed to receive Rp20,000 in cash per person from philanthropists Soikhon
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Tuesday instructed police to investigate the Pasuran tragedy.
"If the incident has claimed lives it must be investigated. Sanctions must be imposed on those who are guilty so that such an incident will not recur," the president told a cabinet meeting here on Tuesday.
Police Chief General Sutanto said that his side was now investigating philanthropist Soikhon and three of his brothers. The alms were distributed without proper arrangements so that it caused the death of 21 people and injured 13 others after they were trampled on during the stampede.
"Take a lesson from this tragedy and don't distribute tithes by inviting crowds but deliver them to those who deserve the alms," MUI Chairman for economic, tithe and alms affairs Amidhan said here on Tuesday.
He said obligatory alms payers who had no time to deliver the tithes to those who deserve it, could channel their donations through official tithe and alms bodies.
Amidhan said alms were voluntary gifts but tithes were obligatory as they basically belonged to the poor so that tithes should be distributed through a good mechanism, not through a way that could cause an undesired tragedy.
He however admitted that the law on tithes did not require tithe payers to distribute the obligatory alms through professional bodies.
"They are free to distribute it directly to the poor, or through religious teachers, mosques or other bodies," he added.
Twenty-one women were killed and dozens of others injured in a stampede in the remote East Java district of Pasuruan on Monday as crowds rushed to receive Rp20,000 in cash per person from philanthropists Soikhon
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Tuesday instructed police to investigate the Pasuran tragedy.
"If the incident has claimed lives it must be investigated. Sanctions must be imposed on those who are guilty so that such an incident will not recur," the president told a cabinet meeting here on Tuesday.
Police Chief General Sutanto said that his side was now investigating philanthropist Soikhon and three of his brothers. The alms were distributed without proper arrangements so that it caused the death of 21 people and injured 13 others after they were trampled on during the stampede.
