Ansor chairman: Protect our children from terrorism

Jakarta, NU Online
The atmosphere of religious harmony in Indonesia has now been disturbed following a surprising suicide bomb attack carried out by a young man named IAH (17)  at the Saint Joseph Catholic church Sunday morning (28/8).

Chairman of the Ansor Youth Movement, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, in a press release, said that "now the terrorist movement has been targeting various ages." This movement has been successful in recruiting young people to be brainwashed.

Furthermore Yaqut said, "GP Ansor strongly condemns the suicide bombing attempt and also encourages the police to thoroughly investigate the parties involved and 'dictating' IAH."

He added that Ansor appealed to all elements of the nation, especially religious organizations to not tolerate the growth of the seeds of terrorism.

According to him, the Medan's suicide bombing attempt clearly shows how terror groups have spread their wings by recruiting young children to be sacrificed.

"Therefore, civil soceity organizations should be protective for the younger generation. Thus, they should act also as a bulwark against all efforts to sow the seeds of terrorism," he said.

Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim country and has the vast majority practice a moderate form of Islam. But there has beeb a resurgence in fundamentalism during recent years, inspired in part by Islamist militant groups like al Qaeda and Islamic State. (Mahbib/Masdar)