Jakarta – Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali says that Islam in Indonesia has helped the country promote democracy and has had no relation with fundamentalism.

Suryadharma said on Tuesday as quoted by kompas.com that even though Islam was not the country's ideology, it influenced the state's life with principles of tolerance and peace. He also said that Islam in Indonesia accommodated pluralist practices among the country's population.

"Islam in Indonesia is a blessing for all creation. That is what makes it unique," he said on the sidelines of the Annual Conference on Islamic Studies XI in Pangkalpinang.

He said that discrimination was unknown in the religion's principles. Islam supported justice, safety and protection for all, he added. "We will continue to campaign for a friendly and tolerant Islam to help Indonesia become a better nation," he said.

The ministry's director general for Islamic education, Muhammad Ali, said that the annual conference was aimed at discussing the problems of Indonesia. "The event is an opportunity to discuss how Islamic thinking can help the nation solve its problems," he said.