The Muslim News

Huge challenges facing Muslim ummah

20-06-2006

By Ahmed J Versi in Jakarta

Jakarta, The Muslim News OnLine:

Muslims are facing huge challenges of terrorism, lack of progress, and poverty, said President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Tuesday.

Speaking at the inaugural international conference of Islamic scholars organised by Nahdatul Ulama, he said Muslim community can "play a pivotal role" in "promoting peace" and "global culture of tolerance".

The President said the Muslim ummah "must be firm and united in the global fight against terrorism."

He told over 300 invited scholars how Muslims were leading the world in science and culture but now are left behind. The way for advancement is to "embrace science, technology and modernity."

The President said that Muslims are suffering increasingly Islamophobia where they are in a minority and one way of countering this is to "show, through exemplary deeds and persistent advocacy that Muslims are a peaceful ummah."

This is the second international conference held by Nahdatul Ulama, the largest Muslim organisation in Indonesia with a membership of 40 million.