Hundreds of people grouped in the Indonesian Muslim Solidarity for Al Quds (SMIQ) and the Voice of Palestine (VOP) rallied here Friday to express opposition to all forms of Israeli oppression of Palestinians.
The rally took place in front of Central Java`s Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD) under tight police watch.
Ustadz Abubakar of the SMIQ`s Semarang chapter said the rally was held to express solidarity with the Palestinian people who were being oppressed by the Israelis.
"We as Muslims in Indonesia are concerned about what the Israelis are doing to Palestinians and we will not stop demanding justice for Palestine," he said.
Abubakar also demanded that Indonesia never open diplomatic relations with Israel and also oppose the aggression by the US and its allies against many Islamic countries committed for all sorts of reasons.
These issues would be going on forever, especially with another terrorist issues by the Americans.
"The terrorism cases these days hold many mysteries, and many Islamic countries are accused as being terrorist havens," he said.
The accusations had become a practical device to intimidate Muslim countries and must be resisted by all Muslim countries, Abubakar said.
Meanwhile, a Semarang VOP representative, Hamid, said the solidarity action was done annually , especially every Friday of the last week of Ramadan , to strenghten Muslim unity around the world.
Hamid said the solidarity action was also against any form of oppression, colonialism and human right violations around the world.
"Therefore let us spread peace around the world and wipe out every injustice and arbitrary system which can break our unity," he said.
The rally caused a traffic jam on Jalan Pahlawan, Semarang, as many passers-by stopped their vehicles to watch the rally.
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