The West's defence of Charlie Hebdo's right to offend is testing the patience of Muslims even in moderate Indonesia and Malaysia, who fear it could fuel radical sentiment kindled by the Islamic State group.
Publicly, the issue has stirred barely a ripple in the Southeast Asian neighbours, underscoring their cultural and philosophical gap with the rest of the Muslim world, where it has triggered outrage.
But even some liberal Indonesians and Malaysians express resentment over the French magazine's crude caricatures of the Prophet Mohamed and the "Je suis Charlie" reaction, while vehemently condemning the massacre at its Paris office.
"No one can justify those killings. Our religion does not allow that," said Zamfis Anuar, a Muslim primary school teacher in Kuala Lumpur. But the reaction in the West "makes (Muslims) think, 'who are your friends?'"
The issue has emerged at a delicate time for Malaysia and Indonesia - the world's most populous Muslim country - with both nations on alert over Islamic State (IS) militants' proven ability to lure their citizens to jihad in Syria. Many Muslims in Southeast Asia, like their counterparts elsewhere, believe a Western anti-Islam agenda exists, said Noorhaidi Hasan, a lecturer on Islam at Indonesia's Sunan Kalijaga Islamic University.
"The Charlie Hebdo incident likely strengthens at some level their belief in that conspiracy theory," he said. If coupled with worsening economic conditions, this could "give rise to radicalism", he added.
LURE OF ISLAMIC STATE
Frequently feted by the West as examples for the rest of the Muslim world, stable and economically dynamic Indonesia and Malaysia have centuries-old traditions of moderate Islam, which experts say are unlikely to change.
But Indonesia has vivid memories of Islamic militant attacks including the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people, mostly foreign tourists, and small-scale extremist strikes still occur occasionally.
Anti-terror crackdowns in both nations have dramatically weakened militant networks, but IS has attracted at least hundreds of Indonesian and Malaysian recruits, raising fears they will bring the group's violent ideology back home.
Last year, tiny, oil-rich Brunei underlined a slow but steady regional drift toward more conservative Islam by phasing in a new sharia criminal code that will eventually include death by stoning, amputation of limbs and other harsh penalties for a range of crimes. In Malaysia, meanwhile, a conservative Islamic party has stepped up its own calls for similar measures in a state it controls.
The Paris attack was likely quietly applauded among hardline conservative Muslims in the region, who feel Charlie Hebdo pushed too far, said Joseph Liow, an expert on Southeast Asian militancy at the Brookings Institute in the United States.
"Even those classified as 'moderate' would be uneasy with Charlie Hebdo even if they condemn the attacks. To them, Charlie Hebdo is, to put it in simple terms, extremist."
In this environment, leaders in the two countries have walked a delicate line. Indonesian President Joko Widodo condemned the Paris attacks, while saying no one should "mock or insult" religions, echoing similar calls by Malaysia's Najib Razak.
PARIS RALLY 'NAUSEATING'
But some in Muslim-majority, multi-ethnic Malaysia have used the attacks to decry the West.
A conservative firebrand suggested the magazine had it coming, and popular Youth Minister Khairy Jamaluddin called the post-attack anti-terror march in Paris by various world leaders "nauseating".
"Muslims are no longer talking about the attack but about the West's hostility. This can increase radical ideas," said Mohamad Asri Zainal Abidin, former official mufti, or Islamic scholar, for the northern Malaysian state of Perlis. "Many Muslims may start to believe that there is no space for good relations with the West, which leaves no hope for moderates."
Some Malaysian officials, meanwhile, have sparked concern by using the episode to justify an ongoing crackdown on free speech that has dismayed progressives.
Both countries have warned of possible attacks at home by IS sympathisers, with Malaysian officials saying Charlie Hebdo could potentially escalate the threat.
On Monday, Malaysia's Datuk Seri Najib Razak issued an unusual call for the country's Islamic authorities to use their influence to counter terrorism, and police have said they are stepping up monitoring of Islamic schools. AFP reporters who visited one such school outside Kuala Lumpur recently found teen students openly expressing a desire to die in the IS militant.
But observers said both countries have a firm grip on militancy and that the core tolerance embedded in their cultures appeared secure, especially if their economies remain stable. "Indonesia is on the right track," said Hasan, the Indonesian academic. "The total number of Islamic extremists is significantly decreasing."
AFP
Wed Jan 21 2015
Pakistani demonstrators hold posters during a protest against the printing of satirical sketches of the Prophet Muhammad by French magazine Charlie Hebdo, in Karachi on January 19, 2015. - AFP PHOTO / Rizwan TABASSUM
200 ulama nusantara dijangka hadiri Persidangan Ulama Sedunia Mei ini
Seramai 200 ulama nusantara dijangka hadir Persidangan Ulama Sedunia yang akan diadakan di Petaling Jaya, Selangor pada 7 dan 8 Mei ini.
Pengecualian sementara borang TM.6 oleh Thailand bantu rangsang pelancongan Perlis
Langkah kerajaan Thailand mengecualikan sementara warganegara asing daripada mengemukakan Borang TM.6 ketika masuk dan keluar dari negara itu dilihat dapat merangsang sektor pelancongan di Perlis.
AWANI Ringkas: Peruntukan pembangkang: Kerajaan setuju secara dasar
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Lapan anggota FRU didakwa simpan lapan bahagian badan pelanduk tanpa lesen
Jika sabit kesalahan mereka boleh didenda tidak melebihi RM50,000, dipenjara tempoh tidak melebihi dua tahun atau kedua-duanya sekali.
Rasuah: Kakitangan Pejabat Perikanan Perlis direman empat hari
Seorang kakitangan Pejabat Perikanan Perlis direman empat hari untuk membantu siasatan kes meminta dan menerima rasuah secara bulanan daripada sebuah syarikat.
28,531 calon UPKK 2023 raih 8A
28,531 daripada 230,580 calon yang menduduki Ujian Penilaian Kelas KAFA (UPKK) 2023 berjaya catat keputusan cemerlang A dalam kesemua lapan mata pelajaran.
Dua individu ditahan bantu siasatan minta, terima sogokan daripada firma guaman
SPRM menahan dua individu selama empat hari bagi membantu siasatan berkaitan penerimaan wang suapan daripada beberapa firma guaman.
Operasi PeWA: JPJ Pulau Pinang sita 22 kenderaan, keluar 63 saman
JPJ Pulau Pinang menyita 22 kenderaan yang dipandu warga asing dalam Ops Khas Pemandu Warga Asing (PeWA) di Bulatan Tun Hussain Onn, Seberang Jaya.
Lisa BLACKPINK beli rumah ‘tersorok’ di Beverly Hills, harga RM19 juta
Tidak ada yang mengejutkan apabila Lisa BLACKPINK telah menambah satu lagi aset berbentuk kediaman.
Stoking tertera kalimah Allah: Hukuman penjara, denda terhadap Wai Loong dibatalkan
Hakim membenarkan semakan difailkan tertuduh supaya pengakuan bersalah dibuatnya atas pertuduhan berkenaan, bukan akuan jelas dan tanpa bersyarat.
Kerajaan disaran kaji semula kontrak bekalan alat ketenteraan dari Perancis
Akhramsyah berpendapat tindakan itu dikhuatiri akan membahayakan negara jika rakan kongsi negara berkenaan terus mengamalkan sikap anti Islam.
Pendirian Macron sukarkan proses perdamaian kaum, Islamofobia - Penganalisis
Pendekatan Presiden, Emmanuel Macron yang dilihat menekankan nilai permusuhan dan Islamofobia, menyukarkan lagi jalan perdamaian.
Presiden Perancis Emmanuel Macron tidak bertamadun - Tun M
Dr Mahathir menegaskan, Perancis harus mendidik rakyatnya agar menghormati perasaan orang lain.
Dua terbunuh dalam serangan di sebuah gereja di Nice, Perancis
Dua individu dilaporkan maut dalam satu kejadian serangan di sebuah gereja di bandaraya Nice, Perancis pada Khamis.
Karikatur nabi: Jangan ambil tindakan luar batasan agama, undang-undang - Jakim
Datuk Abdul Aziz Jusoh berkata ini kerana tindakan itu dibimbangi boleh mencetuskan suasana tidak harmoni antara penganut berbilang agama di negara ini.
Macron tidak hormat kebebasan beragama, bersifat perkauman - NGO
Menerusi satu kenyataan bersama, mereka menegaskan rakyat Malaysia perlu untuk bangkit bersama menunjukkan bantahan mengikut ruang lingkup undang-undang.
Malaysia kecam sekeras-kerasnya ucapan benci dan fitnah Islam
Malaysia menjunjung hak kebebasan bersuara serta hak asasi manusia selagi mana ia digunakan secara bertanggungjawab dan penuh hormat, sekali gus tidak menafikan serta melanggar hak pihak lain.
Hina Islam: Pas seru umat Islam boikot barangan buatan Perancis
Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang menyeru umat Islam memboikot barangan buatan Perancis bagi menunjukkan solidariti terhadap Islam dan kemajmukan beragama dalam masyarakat.
Isu karikatur Nabi Muhammad: Dr Zulkifli titip surat kepada duta Perancis
Dr Zulkifli menulis surat khusus berhubung isu karikatur Nabi Muhammad SAW oleh Charlie Hebdo kepada Duta Perancis di Malaysia.
Isu karikatur Nabi Muhammad: Umat Islam serata dunia protes
Protes itu juga sebagai respons kepada tindakan Presiden Perancis Emmanuel Macron yang mempertahankan seorang guru yang mati dibunuh kerana membawa kartun itu ke dalam kelasnya.