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)