PRESIDENT: DON'T MAKE MISTAKES IN RELIGIOUS PROPAGATION

    Serang - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called on those in charge of religious propagation not to trigger conflicts among the community. In his address marking the opening of the 22nd National Koran Recital Contest (MTQ) in Serang, Banten Province, on Tuesday (17/6), the Head of State appealed to religious leaders to seek the best solution to contradictory issues on misleading religious tenets.

    "It is expected that religious leaders would settle problems well and guide misleading adherents," he said. The Head of State added that it was a mistake to let an individual to follow wrong religious tenets, but should be saved in a brotherly ways. On the other hand, the President  warned that none has the right to  take any action in the name of Islam, while never following  Islamic ways. "Islam is peace, shelter, justice, and love.  Islam is far from violence and conflicts," he said. In case of a misunderstanding and difference, the head of state called on the people to settle their problem peacefully.

    The President said that the from his meetings with some leaders from Middle East and other countries, he got the impression that the international community hoped Indonesia would revive a  peace-loving Islam. As a country in the world with the larges Muslim population, Indonesia could demonstrate Islam as a peace loving universal religion. The world, he added, hoped that Indonesia could maintain peace through Islamic awakening which has respect of differences. (Antara, 18/06/08)