MUI executive condemns JI

MUI executive condemns JI

JAKARTA: A member of Indonesia's Islamic authority on Friday
denounced the Jemaah Islamiyah network, which is blamed for the
Bali bombings and a string of other attacks, and voiced support
for the government's efforts to root out terrorism.

"We can't tolerate and support people who use the name of
Jemaah Islamiyah to engage in terrorism," Umar Shihab, deputy
chairman of the Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI), told AFP.

Jemaah Islamiyah is Arabic for Islamic community.

"Islam is a peaceful religion. We don't want division and
enmity," he said.

Shihab said terrorists should be rooted out because they give
religion a bad name.

Indonesian Islamic leaders had previously refused to directly
condemn the group, which is blamed by police for the terror
attacks that have hit Indonesia over the past three years,
including last October's Bali bombings and the Marriott hotel car
bombing in Jakarta in August. -- AFP