Suherdjoko, Semarang, Central Java – About 200 members of Islamic organizations under the auspices of the Semarang Muslim Forum (FUIS) are set to depart for Jakarta to participate in a rally on Saturday.

FUIS spokesperson Susmanto said their departure was in response to the National Movement to Safeguard the Indonesian Ulema Council's Edict's [GNPF MUI] call for a rally to follow up the previous one held to "defend Islam" on Dec.2.

"We will join the Feb. 11 rally, which will be held at Istiqlal Grand Mosque," FUIS spokesperson Susmanto said on Friday. Dubbed "Aksi 112", the rally will be themed "Zikr and National Islamic Lecture on the Implementation of Al-Maidah 51."

"Our participation is part of our responsibility to the interests of Islam and Muslim people in Indonesia, who are facing a lot of pressure and accusations," said Susmanto.

The first group, which comprises 150 people, will depart for Jakarta by bus from the FUIS headquarters on Jl. Kakap Raya, Dadapsari subdistrict, North Semarang. The second group, which comprises 50 people, will go by train from Poncol Station, Semarang, on 6 p.m.

"No party will keep us from attending the rally. Even the police have promised to guard our trip to Jakarta," said Susmanto.

He said during the rally, the FUIS would call for an end to all kinds of discrimination against Muslim clerics because they were assets, not enemies of the state. It would also call for the temporary dismissal of Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama as Jakarta governor and his arrest for blasphemy. (ebf)Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/02/10/muslim-followers-from-semarang-ready-to-join-feb-11-rally.html