East Java ulemas to visit China

East Java ulemas to visit China

SURABAYA: Twelve religious scholars (ulemas) from East Java
are scheduled to leave for China for a dialog with Chinese
Moslems on the development of Islam.

Of the 12, nine were from the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the
country's biggest association of Moslem scholars, NU-East Java
chairman Ali Maschan, told reporters here Thursday.

He said the nine were Idris Marzuki, Anam Mansur and Aziz
Mansur from Kediri; Gus Ubaid Abdullah Faqih from Tuban; Masduqi
Mahfudh of NU-East Java; Mas Subadar from Pasuruan; Miftahul
Akhyar from Surabaya; Nuruddin A Rahman and Imam Buchori from
Bangkalan (Madura).

Maschan said the other three were from the Muhammadiyah
Islamic organization and the Indonesian Council of Religious
Scholars (MUI).

"Most of them were invited by Alim Markus, the director of PT
Maspion, the biggest manufacturer of houseware in the province,"
he said.

During the 10-day visit from Sept. 13 to 23, the party will
visit some provinces in China which are predominantly Moslem and
view some Islamic relics, he said.