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Over 500 Indonesians join IS
The countryâs largest Muslim organization, Nadhlatul Ulama (NU), revealed that more than 500 Indonesian citizens had joined the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria without the relevant authorities taking any preventive measures
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T
he country's largest Muslim organization, Nadhlatul Ulama (NU), revealed that more than 500 Indonesian citizens had joined the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria without the relevant authorities taking any preventive measures.
'At least 514,' kompas.com quoted NU Chairman Said Aqil Siraj as saying after a meeting with President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo at the State Palace on Thursday.
He said the President had not commented on the increasing number of Indonesian citizens joining IS.
An intelligence report revealed recently that IS teachings had been spreading and recruitment to the organization had been conducted underground in many regions of the country, including West Java, following the government's official ban of IS teachings in the country.
The government has threatened to criminalize those joining IS and revoke their nationality.
Aqil said the President had asked the NU to help fight radicalism in the country.
He said, however, most Islamic countries had urged Indonesia to be in the front row in the fight against IS, the influence of which is spreading more rapidly in the Middle East.
'Islamic countries have asked the President to bring Indonesia to the frontline in the fight against IS and radicalism. IS has more effectively damaged Islam than non-Muslims,' he said. (rms)(++++)
