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Young Islamic preachers call on nation to oppose anti-Pancasila movements

Source
Jakarta Post - May 17, 2017

Safrin La Batu, Jakarta – A group of young Islamic preachers has called on the nation to walk hand in hand to oppose any campaigns that polarize people along religious or ethnic lines, including movements that run counter to the nation's pluralistic values.

The group, which calls itself the Young Islamic Preachers' Network of the Archipelago (Jaringan Ulama Muda Nusantara – JUMAT), said religious hate speech harmed the religion itself and broke the pluralistic foundation of Indonesia.

"The politicization of religion makes members of society suspicious of one another. If we let such movements continue to exist, the foundation of our pluralistic society will eventually tear apart," said Hadi Badori, the group's national coordinator.

The group, advisory board members of which include Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Said Aqil Siradj, particularly condemns the group Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), saying its campaigns harmed the pluralistic foundation of Indonesia.

"HTI is harmful. It is against the principles of the NKRI [Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia] and the 1945 Constitution," Hadi said. "For us, Pancasila [the state ideology] is final."

HTI is a pan-Islamic organization that seeks to establish a global caliphate. The Office of the Coordinating Political, Legal & Security Affairs Minister recently declared it would ban the organization.

As part of its campaign to save the nation from polarization, JUMAT will hold a mass prayer on Friday that is estimated to be attended by 20,000 people.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/05/17/young-islamic-preachers-call-on-nation-to-oppose-anti-pancasila-movements.html

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