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.