News
World Islamic leaders protest Indonesia's support of UN resolution on Iran
Senin, 2 April 2007 | 18:10 WIB
Jakarta, NU Online
Islamic leaders angered by Indonesia's support of a UN resolution against Iran have canceled plans to attend an international meeting about violence between Iraqi Shiites and Sunnis, one of the organizers said Monday.
Twenty-one clerics were expected at the gathering that kicks off Tuesday, but only 12 have confirmed attendance, said Hasyim Muzadi, chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia's largest Muslim organization.<>
"Some influential Muslim clerics have canceled," he told reporters, pointing mostly to influential Shiite and Sunni leaders from Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and Iran.
They are upset by "Indonesia's inconsistency," Muzadi said, citing the government's decision to support a UN Security Council resolution punishing Iran for refusing to halt uranium enrichment.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said ahead of last month's vote that the best way to resolve the international standoff was through diplomacy, but in the end his country - a non-permanent council member - supported sanctions.
They included banning Iranian arms exports, and freezing the assets of 28 people and organizations involved in Iran's nuclear and missile programs.
Muzadi, one of the organizers of the International Conference of Muslim Leaders for Reconciliation in Iraq, said it was hard to imagine now that the two-day meeting in the city of Bogor would reach any significant conclusions. (ap/dar)
Islamic leaders angered by Indonesia's support of a UN resolution against Iran have canceled plans to attend an international meeting about violence between Iraqi Shiites and Sunnis, one of the organizers said Monday.
Twenty-one clerics were expected at the gathering that kicks off Tuesday, but only 12 have confirmed attendance, said Hasyim Muzadi, chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia's largest Muslim organization.<>
"Some influential Muslim clerics have canceled," he told reporters, pointing mostly to influential Shiite and Sunni leaders from Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and Iran.
They are upset by "Indonesia's inconsistency," Muzadi said, citing the government's decision to support a UN Security Council resolution punishing Iran for refusing to halt uranium enrichment.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said ahead of last month's vote that the best way to resolve the international standoff was through diplomacy, but in the end his country - a non-permanent council member - supported sanctions.
They included banning Iranian arms exports, and freezing the assets of 28 people and organizations involved in Iran's nuclear and missile programs.
Muzadi, one of the organizers of the International Conference of Muslim Leaders for Reconciliation in Iraq, said it was hard to imagine now that the two-day meeting in the city of Bogor would reach any significant conclusions. (ap/dar)
