'Middle East conflict diverted in Indonesia'

Researchers from King Fadh University in Saudi Arabia, Sumanto Al Qurtuby, said the polemic of radicalism in the Middle East is often diverted meaningfully by groups in Indonesia. The deflections are made against the background of the interests of these groups. "What I caught there was a problem, what happened there used by groups here," said Sumanto when met at the Building Agency PPSDM Ministry of Health, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Saturday (22/7). Qurtuby explained that there was an understanding of the conflict in the Middle East as happened in Syria and Iraq because of the intervention of Western countries. In fact, he said, the conflict occurred long before the existence of Western countries. According to the man who has lived in Saudi Arabia for six years, the Middle East conflict has been going on for centuries. And, he added, the conflict was not solely due to the share of non-Muslim groups, but also happened among Muslim groups For now, admitted Qurtuby, there is interference of western countries in the conflict in the Middle East. However, he continued, the issue was great to wash his own hands, and masked the fact that the Islamic group was involved in it. "It is true that America is involved, non-Muslim groups are there, but the Islamic faction is also involved because it is split into several camps," he said. Sumanto added that such problems were eventually exploited by some groups in Indonesia as a means to heat the situation. The issue in the Middle East, he added, was manipulated and made a doctrine disseminated to Indonesian society. "The conflict there is a lot of it, but here it is always considered a theological problem," said Qurtuby who is also known as an anthropology lecturer at King Fahd University. "The Muslim conflict of Christians must also be straightened out, both of which are bumped by political movements by groups in Indonesia."