Iraq war not sectarian: Religious leaders<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post,
\nJakarta\/Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
The country's interfaith groups are stepping up efforts to
\ncontain a possible shift in the sentiment toward the Iraqi war
\nfrom one of humanitarian concern to a religious issue.<\/p>\n
Speaking to the press after a meeting with foreign affairs
\nminister Hassan Wirayuda on Wednesday, the religious leaders
\nasserted that believers of all religions in the country were
\nunited in their opposition to the current war on Iraq.<\/p>\n
\"We should continuously underline that what is happening in
\nIraq is not a sectarian war,\" Muslim scholar Komaruddin Hidayat
\nsaid after the meeting.<\/p>\n
\"We should consolidate to ensure that the issue will never
\ndisrupt domestic stability.\"<\/p>\n
As part of the campaign to contain moves to reduce the Iraq
\nwar to a sectarian issue, the interfaith group will organize an
\nantiwar rally, to be participated in by followers of all
\nreligions and faiths.<\/p>\n
\"We will arrange a rally that will not be dominated by
\nMuslims,\" Komaruddin of Paramadina University said. Indonesia is
\nthe world's most populous country.<\/p>\n
No place and date have been set for the rally.<\/p>\n
Such a rally, however, already took place in Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of people grouped under the Interfaith Solidarity for
\nPeace held a mass prayer for the Iraqi people on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The gathering, attended by members of 29 community groups,
\nalso condemned the attack by the U.S. and its allies on Iraq and
\ncalled for an end to the war.<\/p>\n
Another group of 200 people from different religions also
\nconducted a prayer at Gadjah Mada University, with leaders of the
\nrespective religious groups taking turns in leading the prayer.<\/p>\n
\"We express our deepest condolences for the war victims
\nincluding civilians, women, and children, who are the victims of
\nthe ambitions of a few people,\" the statement of the group said.<\/p>\n
Foreign minister Hassan said the government was fully aware of
\nthe importance of working together with community leaders to
\ncontain a possible shift in focus that would make the Iraq war a
\nreligious issue.<\/p>\n
\"There is an urgency to consolidate ranks with religious
\nleaders to contain the possible shift in the issue that would
\ndisrupt domestic stability,\" the minister said.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Indonesian Communion of Churches Rev. Nathan
\nSetiabudi also said that all religions were against the war as it
\nwas against humanity.<\/p>\n
Interfaith groups have been working hand in hand to campaign
\nagainst the war in the past months. They visited Australia and
\nEurope to send the message of Indonesia's opposition to the war
\nbefore the U.S. began its strike.<\/p>\n
The religious leaders had been actively appearing in public
\nforums as a united group against the U.S. incursion on Iraq and
\nhave been effectively communicating the message to the public
\nthat religion had nothing to do with the war.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/iraq-war-not-sectarian-religious-leaders-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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