Jakarta – In a rally attended by thousands of people, religious leaders reaffirmed their allegiance to the state ideology Pancasila in a show of solidarity to counter a growing Islamic radicalism.

The rally took place at Proklamasi Monument in Central Jakarta on Saturday night, in conjunction with the 56th anniversary of Fatayat, the women's organization of Nahdlatul Ulama, the country's largest Muslim group.

Fatayat chairwoman Maria Ulfah Anshar, Reverend Emi Sahertian and Buddhist and Confucian leaders attended the rally, which was opened by NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi. In a speech, Ulfah expressed concern over political and religious practices that prevented women from exercising their basic rights.

"Discrimination takes its toll not only on NU women but Indonesian women in general," she said.