Indonesia to Host International Summit of Moderate Islamic Leaders

Jakarta, 20 Rajab 1437/28 April 2016 (MINA) – Vice President Jusuf Kalla, here, Tuesday, received Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Chairman Said Aqil Siroj, who urged him to attend the International Summit of Moderate Islamic Leaders (ISOMIL) to be held on May 9-11.

“We met Vice President Jusuf Kalla with a request that he kindly attends the closing session of the upcoming conference,” Siroj told journalists after his meeting with the vice president.

Through the upcoming conference, Islamic scholars, or ulemas (ulama), from 45 countries will share their views on moderate Islam and shed light on ways to promote Islam as a religion that upholds peace, truth, and anti-radicalism, Antara was quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The ISOMIL is a follow-up to the special summit and summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) that Jakarta and the Turkish city of Istanbul had recently hosted, he remarked.

“If the OIC summits are held for the heads of state and government of member countries, the ISOMIL is the meeting of ulemas,” he pointed out.

According to Siroj, several ulemas from 45 countries had confirmed their participation in the event.

The NU, Indonesia’s largest Muslim-based organisation, has been mandated by President Joko Widodo to organise the ISOMIL in an effort to safeguard the nation from the threats of radicalism, he affirmed. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA