Pekalongan, NU Online
The Defense Ministry will team up with ulema (Islamic leaders) to help introduce the state defense program to all Muslims.

The ministry jointly arranged a three-day international meeting gathering some 58 ulema from around the world to pass on the concept of the state defense program to their followers starting on Wednesday.

The gathering also saw around 1,500 members of the country’s largest Islamic organization, Nahdatul Ulama, attending.

“We must work together with the ulemas because it’s clear that the concept of state defense is in accordance with religious teachings,” Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu was quoted by The Jakarta Post as saying.

In his speech during the opening ceremony, Ryamizard made it clear that the state defense program was not military training. (Masdar)