THOUSANDS OF MOSLEMS RALLY AGAINST TERRORISM IN SOLO

Solo, Indonesia, Sept 25 (ANTARA) - Around 20,000 Moslems rallied in Solo, Central Java, on Friday, declaring that Islam is not linked with terrorism.

The demonstration was led by four public figures namely Zainal Arifin Adnan, who is an associate chairman of the Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI), Ustadz Wahyudin, the director of the Al Mukmin Islamic boarding school, Ustadz Achmad Sukina, the general chairman of the Koran Interpretation Council, and M Sangidoe.

In their oration they said that Islam could not be linked to terrorism.

Zainal Arifin Adnan said that there was no connection between Islam and terrorism. "They are different things. Islam always resorts to peaceful means while terrorism to violence," he said.

Achmad Sukina meanwhile said that Moslems need to meditate upon the basic teachings of Islam which come from the Koran and Al Hadists.

"In achieving anything they want Moslems to resort to peaceful means," he said. Moslems may not use intimidating means, he said.

Wahyuddin meanwhile said that Islam prohibits its followers to do five things against their fellow human beings.

"They are connected with human rights such as compelling others to hold their faith, murdering or hurting others, disrupting others' properties and disrespecting others," he said.

Sangidoe said through the action Moslems wished to convey their rejection to be associated with terrorists and to terrorism.

The rally was also attended by several officials including Mayor of Surakarta, Joko Widodo, Central Java police chief Inspector General Alex Bambang Riatmodjo, Surakarta regional police chief Senior Commissioner Ery Subagyo and Surakarta city police chief Joko Irwanto. ***