NU to Host Int'l Summit for Moderate Islamic Leaders

Jakarta Globe, Eko Prasetyo, March 31, 2016

Nahdlatul Ulama leaders at the State Palace after meeting President Joko
Widodo on Thursday (31/03). (State Palace Press Photo/Edi)

Jakarta. Indonesia’s biggest Islamic organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, will host the International Summit of Moderate Islamic Leaders in May as part of its effort to help tackle rising terrorism and radicalism.

The meeting is slated for May 9-11 and will be held at the Jakarta Convention Center.

Ma'aruf Amin, one of the to NU leaders, met with President Joko Widodo on Thursday (31/03) to discuss preparations for the event.

“Radicalism and terrorism are clearly on the rise, as the bomb attacks and violent episodes showed recently. Moderate leaders of Islam should come together to counter this,” said Ma’aruf.

Meanwhile, NU chairman Said Aqil Siradj said the president supported the organization's stance against violence. “The government believes that Nahdlatul Ulama, from its central leadership to its village branches, is consistently working against radicalism and will always stand up for tolerant Islamic principles,” he claimed.

Recently, NU has been campaigning for a moderate form of Islamic ideology dubbed "Islam Nusantara," promoting moderate Indonesian Muslims as supporters of nationalism and tolerance.

Using its worldwide network, NU plans to work with moderate religious leaders to reinterpret religious texts that it says have been manipulated by radicals to justify terrorist acts.

Some 60 heads of state will be invited to join the International Summit of Moderate Islamic Leaders.