Muslim Group Calls for Tolerance After Mob Burns Down North Sumatra Temples

Source. Jakarta Globe

Jakarta. The country’s second-biggest Muslim group, Muhammadiyah, has called for greater religious and racial tolerance in North Sumatra following the burning down and destruction on Saturday of several Buddhist houses of worship by enraged mobs in the city of Tanjung Balai.

No casualties were reported in what the youth association of Muhammadiyah called an intolerable incident that could harm Indonesia’s religious and ethnic diversity.

“I call on local religious and ethnic leaders to make everyone understand that the true strength of the Sumatran people is tolerance and respect for diversity,” association chairman Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak said on Saturday (30/07).

Saturday’s incident began when residents reportedly got angry at a woman of Chinese descent who allegedly protested against a mosque using loudspeakers to broadcast calls to prayers and recitals in front of her home in Tanjung Balai.

The situation quickly escalated as provocations circulated on social media against the woman.

Security has been amped up at monasteries and temples in the city to prevent further incidents, with authorities agreeing to hold immediate meetings with religious and other local leaders to reinstate public harmony.

“I have instructed members of our youth association there to speak with local groups to prevent more religious and racial conflicts,” Dahnil told the Jakarta Globe.

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Categories: Asia, Indonesia

2 replies

  1. EXTREMIST MUSLIMS (SUNNI & SHIA) ARE AGAINST HUMAN RIGHT OR AGAINST HUMANITY.–DANGEROUS!
    The root of violence in Islam today is The book of Hadith, Extremist Muslim use the book of Hadith to act of violence, and kill innocent ; Apostate, gay-lesbian, blaspheme, and those who do not pledge to Chaliph of ISIS.
    So as long as the violent Hadith are not removed from the book of Hadith, this violence will not stop.
    I strongly urge Islamic scholars around the world to fix the root of violence. otherwise extremist Muslim will continue to kill innocent people,.
    We are sick and tired of the killings of children, young men and women in our community. It’s up to us to take a stand and demand Islamic scholars to remove all violent Hadith and so extremist Muslim will stop killing us.

    WISDOM OF PROPHETS Muhammad and Jesus.;
    Love your neighbor as you love yourself. No one has faith yet if you do not love all people regardless his religion, race and gender.
    Love is the seed of peace, happiness and prosperity, but hatred is the seed of evil, violence and disaster.

    This golden wisdom we have to give our children and children as new generation.

    Wassalamu’alikum –With all my Love

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