WHEN Muslim scholars (ulama) gather, they usually strengthen their brotherhood ties and pray for each other. When intellectuals meet, knowledge is frequently shared. However, this was not the prevailing mood at the Mandarin Hotel Jakarta, last Thursday. Here, the two camps met amid high tensions and flying accusations.

Dawam Rahardjo, who is a former Rector of the University of Islam in Bekasi, and Amidhan, a Chairman from the Indonesian Ulamas Co