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