Second, it is necessary to understand that Islam in each country is represented differently in each culture. Although the Islamic doctrine is to practice Islam perfectly (kaffah) but it is then re-united with the cultural conditions in which Islam to be the worst for state abuse. Cambodia witnessed a violent change of government led by the Prime Minister Hun Sen, ending the coalition administered by the United Nations elections in 1993. Cambodia was not a member of ASEAN, and plans were underway to include it. However, the ASEAN Way was highly unsuccessful, as the organisation was ill-equipped to engage constructively with a non-member country. Moreover, the ASEAN Way’s emphasis on non-military engagement further deteriorated the region’s stability when Vietnam invaded Cambodia. The ASEAN Way proved to be effective in dealing with Indonesia’s Haze Crisis. In 1997 and 1998, approximately 45, 000 km2 of forest and land burnt on the island of Sumatra and Kalimantan in Indonesia. It resulted in severe pollution of neighbouring member countries causing chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, impaired visibility, and upper respiratory tract infections. However, it affectdeveloped, in the sense that Islam provides the foundation and principles for the shari’ah that is carried out similarly throughout the world, but its implementation according to each culture. An example is that my shari’ah obligation is to tell women to wear the hijab in order to cover the aurat (the part that is forbidden to show) this is implemented in thought and culture, therefore we see a wide variety of Muslim women wearing headscarves. Some take the opinion that the hijab is appropriate, so we will see women who dress modestly cover their chests but do not wear head coverings. There are also those who wear headscarves to cover their chests, others who wear very long headscarves, others who wear hijabs along with a burqa and also those who wear long headscarves with a veil or burqa plus a black suit.
Third, it should be understood that Islam is spread in two ways, namely by violence (war and weapons) and spread by peaceful means (culture, trade and marriage without coercion). The majority of the spread of Islam in Asia Pacific is by violence except Indonesia (through cultural acculturation). Conquest by violence and war creates old trauma and grudges. These three reasons can create Islamophobia from an intrinsic source other than the use of media and indeed a fundamental hatred of Islam as practiced by the Jews in Palestine.
Islam Phobia in India
There have been many articles describing the series of Islamophobia in India. In general, Islam Phobia in India dates back to the 18th century. In Marc Gaborieau’s writings “Hindu-Muslim Conflict in India in Historical Perspective” the cause of Hindu-Muslim conflict in India was due to the campaign to spread Islam in the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle Ages, then Muslim sporadic violence. Hinduism was also caused by a number of British colonial policies since the 19th century which resulted in the separation of India-Pakistan in 1947. The conflicts in the 20th century were also fueled by Islamophobia which was triggered by acts of terrorism in the name of Islam. This is back again to the three points above. What is learned today from Islamophobia in India is that anything that begins with bad politics, bigotry and violence in an effort to conquer will not last forever, there is no way of peace and salvation with violence, it will actually cause resentment and new problems in the world. War and violence should only be used to save lives and if they are threatened. We see the traces of Islam in its heyday in various countries in the world which are now only stories because of political ambition and violence. As for Islamophobia today, it is just a term that people attach to their hatred and fear of the representation of Islam in this century, in essence, Islam phobia has existed since the beginning of Islam.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Syarifah Huswatun Miswar received a Master of Law in International Relations from the School of International and Public Affairs, Jilin University, China. She is a research analyst with an emphasis on Environmental in International Relations issues.