Islam strives for peace: Farrakhan<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Visiting American Nation in Islam leader Louis
\nFarrakhan said yesterday the Western world's fear of Islam
\nstemmed from a smear campaign by anti-Islamic bodies, including
\nindustrialized countries' intelligence services and their mass
\nmedia.<\/p>\n
In a meeting with the Indonesian Council of Ulemas here, and
\nattending Friday prayer at Istiqlal Grand Mosque along with
\nthousands of Jakartan Moslems, Farrakhan said some groups did not
\nwish to see Moslems live and develop in peace.<\/p>\n
Farrakhan, who arrived here late Thursday in a private jet and
\nwho reportedly plans to go to Australia today, was quoted by
\nAntara as saying that Islam called its followers to peace, not to
\ncommit crimes and terrorism as the West accused it of doing.<\/p>\n
He said the image of Islam held by most of the developed world
\nwas engineered by irresponsible bodies such as the CIA, Mossad
\nand Scotland Yard. These intelligence bodies, he said, strove to
\ncurb the worldwide Islamic propagation movement.<\/p>\n
Farrakhan also met yesterday with Indonesian Minister of
\nReligious Affairs Tarmizi Taher who said they discussed various
\nreligious and propagation matters.<\/p>\n
Tarmizi said that American Moslems under the leadership of
\nFarrakhan had asked him to become a member of a world council on
\nreligions.<\/p>\n
"I have not yet accepted the offer because I have to consult
\nwith the President first," Tarmizi said.<\/p>\n
In a media briefing, Farrakhan condemned the United States'
\nplanned military move on Iraq.<\/p>\n
"As Moslems, we prefer peace," he said, adding that he had
\nwritten to both US President Clinton and Iraqi Saddam Hussein
\nsuggesting they seek a peaceful solution.<\/p>\n
Farrakhan, who is accompanied by an entourage of 21 people,
\nalso called for unity between Indonesian Moslems and his
\nfollowers.<\/p>\n
"I am proud to be in Indonesia, the largest Moslem nation in
\nthe world," he said. "I appeal to the Moslem ummat (followers) --
\nwe must unite as Allah said in the Koran."<\/p>\n
The American religious leader said his visit to Indonesia on
\nthe tail-end of a world tour was his own initiative, adding he
\nsympathized with the country in its current economic turmoil and
\nbelieved it would "come through this trial". (swe)<\/p>",
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