Jakarta-
A young Indonesian cleric has declared that taking selfies is a sin, according to a report on news website Quartz.
A popular Indonesian author and speaker Felix Siauw posted his 17 point manifesto on Twitter last week.
Siauw declared that taking a selfie is a sin as it often means succumbing to pride, arrogance, and ostentation which is not allowed in Islam. Selfie are self-portrait photographs, typically taken with a hand-held digital camera or camera phone, mostly for sharing on social media.
9. zaman ini banyak Muslimah tanpa malu selfie, satu foto 9 frame | dengan pose wajah yang -innalillahi-, dimana kemuliaan wanita?
— Felix Siauw (@felixsiauw) January 19, 2015
While criticizing Muslim women for taking selfies, he stated “These days many Muslim women are taking selfies without shame. There are usually nine frames in one photo with facial poses that are just–my goodness–where’s the purity in women?”
The criticism on selfie is not new. Previously, religious leaders have criticsed Muslims taking selfies during their annual pilgrimage to Mecca—also known as the “hajj selfie.”
Siauw’s comments have sparked reaction in Indonesia where smart phones and social media are widely popular.
People are using the hashtag of #selfie4siawu on Twitter along with selfies in defiance of the the cleric’s remarks. The influence of a single cleric may not outweigh the pro-selfie forces in the country—especially since Indonesian president Joko Widodo is a noted selfie fan.
The first selfie that Mr. President Joko Widodo took at the Presidential Palace with his volunteers! #PresidenJokowi pic.twitter.com/qdePHI7Kgc
— Farina Situmorang (@farinajs) October 20, 2014
And where were cameras at that time to be featured in books of religions.this is playing spoilsport and taking fun out life and keeping it to themselves…that's what all these mullhas want
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