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