Thousands to join Muslim conference in Maluku<\/p>\n
AMBON, Maluku (JP): Thousands of Muslims were scheduled to
\ngather in the compound of Al-Fatah Grand Mosque here to take part
\nin a three-day conference starting Monday, the event's organizer
\nsaid on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Maluku Muslim conference Lutfi Sanaki said the
\nconference would mainly discuss how to unite the Muslim people's
\nvision in connection with the current communal conflict in
\nMaluku.<\/p>\n
\"We insist on holding the conference despite protests from
\nmany groups asking for the event to be postponed. This gathering
\nis urgent to unite the vision and mission of Muslims in response
\nto the current conflict here,\" Lutfi told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
More than 2,000 people from across and outside the islands
\nwere invited to the event, he added.<\/p>\n
Noted Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid, former chairman of the
\nIndonesian Muslim Intellectuals Association (ICMI) Adi Sasono,
\nrector of the Jakarta-based Syarif Hidayatullah Islamic Teaching
\nInstitute Azyumardi Ahzra, former Maluku military commander Lt.
\nGen. Suaidi Marasabessy and another former top military officer
\nwho served in the province, Brig. Gen. (ret.) Rustam Kastor, are
\nscheduled to speak in the gathering.<\/p>\n
Many have expressed apprehension and concern that the event
\nwould worsen the already shaky ceasefire in the Maluku capital of
\nAmbon, which has been unsettled by a prolonged clash between
\nMuslims and Christians.<\/p>\n
Chairman of Maluku's Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) Abbas Samed
\nmet the Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina on Friday to ask the
\nlatter to ban the planned gathering, saying certain groups could
\nexploit the conference to create chaos and this in turn would
\ntarnish Islamic teachings. (49)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/thousands-to-join-muslim-conference-in-maluku-1447893297",
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