Chair of Largest Indonesian Muslim Organization Elected to World Council of Religions for Peace Board

September 7, 2006

Source: UCAN

http://www.theindiancatholic.com/newsread.asp?nid=3299

On September 7, 2006 UCAN reported, "The Indonesian Muslim leader recently elected a board member of the World Conference of Religions for Peace (WCRP) says he will promote dialogue and warn people against communal provocation. Hasyim Muzadi, chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama, the largest Muslim organization in Indonesia, was one of 12 Muslims elected to the WCRP World Council during the Eighth World Assembly of Religions for Peace, held Aug. 26-29 in Kyoto, Japan. The council is the organization's governing board. According to assembly documents, more than 800 leaders of 20 religions from more than 100 countries attended the gathering. In their Kyoto Declaration, the delegates say religions must play a greater role in identifying and opposing violence in any form. They also urge religious communities to prevent the exploitation of religion to justify violence. Muzadi spoke Sept. 3 with reporters at Al Hikam Islamic boarding house for university students in Malang, 670 kilometers southeast of Jakarta. He said he would remind religious leaders and followers not to be incited by political or business conflicts, which easily can degenerate into conflict along religious lines."