Muslim preacher invited to Aceh

BANDA ACEH: Popular Muslim preacher Abdullah Gymnastiar, widely known as Aa Gym, has been invited by the Aceh Martial Law Authority to preach on Wednesday at Banda Aceh's Baiturrahman Grand Mosque.

"Besides holding sermons at the Mosque, Aa Gym would distribute charity packages to people," Martial Law Authority spokesman Col. Ditya Soedarsono said on Monday.

He said residents in East and North Aceh regencies were eagerly expecting Aa Gym, the son of a retired army officer, to visit them.

Soedarsono admitted that the popular Muslim preacher was deliberately invited by the authorities to help improve the unity among people who have been disturbed by the separatist activities of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). -- Antara