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Jokowi meets NU leader to discuss social problems
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President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Said Aqil Siroj have a lunch meeting at the State Palace in Jakarta on Jan 11. (JP/Anton Hermansyah)
P
resident Joko "Jokowi" Widodo invited Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Said Aqil Siroj for lunch at the State Palace on Wednesday to discuss social problems.
The President asked him, as the leader of the largest Muslim organization with approximately 40 million followers, to assist in efforts to overcome social conflict and fake news.
"We will follow up by developing a team to work with the government," he said after the lunch meeting, adding that the NU was ready to counter radicalism by sounding the spirit of tolerant Islam in the media.
(Read also: Peace more important than sharia: NU)
Said added that because of radical views and teachings, Indonesians had become divided.
"They just recently appeared with Islamic slogans, caliphate slogans and want to change everything. They never struggled for independence, never participated in building the nation but insist on changing it," he asserted.
He added that Muslims should be able to live alongside those who practiced different religions.
The chairman said Prophet Muhammed never encouraged hate.
"Let's use the prophet as an example," he said. (dan)
