A group of Muslim clerics from Indonesia’s largest Islamic organization, the Nahdatul Ulama, is concerned Facebook could be used to flirt, leading to illicit affairs, adultery or worse. (Supri/Reuters)

Does Facebook lead to adultery?

DiggThis

That's the logic of some powerful Muslim clerics in Indonesia. But others would be happy to "friend" you.

By Peter Gelling - GlobalPost
Published: May 28, 2009 10:51 ET

JAKARTA — The country briefly dizzied itself this past week after a group of Muslim clerics from the country’s largest Islamic organization, the Nahdatul Ulama, recommended creating rules to govern how Muslims use Facebook — again pitting the nation’s religious against its increasing modernity.

The clerical bunch were concerned the social-networking site could be used to flirt, leading to illicit affairs, adultery or worse. Their concerns are certainly not a stretch and it’s not the first time the issue has come up. Muslim leaders here had similar concerns with Friendster and MySpace in previous years.

But this time a frantic Indonesian press jumped all over the story and in its haste grossly exaggerated it. A slew of stories incorrectly said the clerics had issued a fatwa, or a religious edict, that outright banned the popular site for Muslims.

Fatwas are not legally binding but it is considered a sin if a Muslim doesn’t abide by the ruling. A bevy of bizarre rulings in recently years, however, has hurt the credibility of some of the country’s leading Muslim organizations and the public is increasingly less likely to follow them. The Indonesian Ulema Council, the country’s highest religious authority, was widely ridiculed last year when it considered banning yoga.

Fatwas are front page news here and often lead to a national debate. So when the local press reported Facebook was now forbidden, Indonesians, who are obsessed with all kinds of socializing, let their disapproval rain. Sensing the public relations disaster, the clerics quickly backpedaled.

Facebook is essentially the modern incarnation of the Indonesian coffee shop, where Indonesians often sit for hours gossiping and meeting new people. With less than 1 percent of Indonesians connected to the Internet, the coffee shop still reigns supreme. But that hasn’t stopped Facebook from becoming the most visited website here. The company has said it sees tremendous growth potential in Indonesia as more and more far flung villages get wired.

In fact, Indonesia, which has the world’s largest population of Muslims and is the world’s fourth most populous country, also has the most Facebook users outside of the United States, Great Britain, France and Italy.

And Muslim clerics are no exception.

Comments:

1 Comments.

Login or Register to post comments

Posted by KendraK on October 22, 2009 17:08 ET

I hope that facebook remains available in indonesia (and I am sure it will).

People have got to be careful though, when meeting people on the internet - especially on social network sites where you are encouraged to be as honest and 'sharing' as possible. I found this story which shows how easy it is to be deceived online (though it helps if you are already predisposed to straying...)

http://atmospera.com/2009/10/22/adultery-hoax-on-facebook-ends-in-divorce/

Recent on Indonesia :

Special Report

Thomas Mucha - Commerce - January 28, 2010 17:24 ET

20 correspondents, 20 countries and a world of pain. Meet the ground truth of the global economic crisis.

Indonesia: What do they think of the "Menteng Kid" now?

Peter Gelling - Indonesia - January 19, 2010 19:56 ET

Like other places around the world, Obama is having trouble in his old backyard.

Economic worries in Indonesia? Blame the Chinese.

Peter Gelling - Indonesia - January 10, 2010 07:56 ET

A new regional trade deal raises tensions between two rising economic powers.

Tsunami anniversary marks fragile peace in Aceh

Peter Gelling - Indonesia - December 26, 2009 14:33 ET

Reconstruction efforts have been impressive, but concerns remain over peace agreement with Jakarta.

Climate change: Better REDD than dead?

Peter Gelling - Global Green - December 9, 2009 06:31 ET

Indonesia is taking a bigger role in its CO2 responsibilities.

Why Indonesian kids are crazy for punk

Maria Bakkalapulo & Ayumi Nakanishi - Indonesia - December 1, 2009 13:43 ET

Indonesia: Raise a flag, go to prison

Peter Gelling - Indonesia - December 1, 2009 10:55 ET

Happy independence day in West Papua?

Why white skin is all the rage in Asia

Phillip Martin - China and its neighbors - November 26, 2009 12:03 ET

From pills to lasers to cream, what's fueling the boom in skin-whitening procedures across the continent?

Special report: Silicon Sweatshops

Jonathan Adams and Kathleen E. McLaughlin - China and its neighbors - November 23, 2009 10:51 ET

Despite strict "codes of conduct," labor rights violations are the norm at factories making the world's favorite high-tech gadgets.

Silicon Sweatshops: A promising model

Jonathan Adams and Kathleen E. McLaughlin - China and its neighbors - November 18, 2009 06:54 ET

There's no easy way to police supply chains in Asia. But one US high-tech firm and its Taiwan supplier are taking a creative approach that might just work.

Silicon Sweatshops: Shattered dreams

Jonathan Adams - China and its neighbors - November 17, 2009 07:24 ET

Migrant workers making gadgets at Taiwan's high-tech parks sign deals that make them modern-day indentured servants.

Silicon Sweatshops: The China connection

Kathleen E. McLaughlin and Jonathan Adams - China and its neighbors - November 17, 2009 07:22 ET

For migrant workers, an electronics factory job can be a ticket into China's booming middle class. But for many, it turns into a nightmare of poor working conditions and indifferent bosses.

Silicon Sweatshops: Disposable workforce

Jonathan Adams - China and its neighbors - November 17, 2009 07:22 ET

Laid-off Taiwanese workers accuse their firm of violating industry codes even when times were good.

Indonesia: The home of "Green Islam"

Peter Gelling - Indonesia - November 16, 2009 06:25 ET

Can Quranic teaching save the planet? Many in the world's most-populous Muslim nation think so.

Asia's pushback to big tobacco

Patrick Winn - Thailand - November 15, 2009 12:30 ET

The cigarette industry wants a bigger slice of Asia. Activists want them to butt out.

Can Indonesia's "Hamburger King" topple McDonald's?

Sara Schonhardt - Indonesia - November 11, 2009 06:55 ET

So far, the signs are not good.

Indonesia: Corruption junction

Peter Gelling - Indonesia - November 6, 2009 14:02 ET

A corruption scandal hits — you guessed it — the country's anti-corruption commission.

Indonesia: You call this reform?

Peter Gelling - Indonesia - October 22, 2009 05:45 ET

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's new cabinet has caused some head-scratching.

On Location video: Java, Indonesia

Peter Gelling - Indonesia - October 18, 2009 10:04 ET

Terrorist mastermind Noordin Top is dead. But in the tiny villages of Central Java, his ideas live on.