INTERVIEW The problem within Islam is not in its diversity but how it deals with it, opines liberal Indonesian Islamic scholar Ulil Abshar Abdalla.

If Muslims adopt an ‘exclusivist’ attitude, Ulil Abshar warns, it would risk excommunicating many Muslims as ‘murtad’ or ‘kafir’.

Instead, he urges the adherents of the religion to adopt a more ‘inclusive’ attitude and embrace diversity of opinions within Islam to enrich their own traditions.

This, he says in this second part of his interview with Malaysiakini , is the best way to combat religious fundamentalism among Muslims...