NU CALLS ON MUSLIMS NOT TO REJECT OBAMA'S VISIT

Jakarta, March 15 (ANTARA) - Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia's largest Islamic organization, has called on Muslims across the country not to reject US President Barack Obama's visit to Indonesia later this month.

"I hope that Indonesian Muslims will not reject Obama's visit to Indonesia. It (the rejection) is against not only the Islamic but also international diplomacy ethics," NU chairman KH Hasyim Muzadi said here on Monday.

No Islamic teaching allowed its adherents to reject a guest, he said.

"The Prophet (Muhammad) himself also had 'diplomatic ties' with adherents of other faiths including Jews," he said.

The NU chief said Obama had shown good intention to improve the US ties with the Islamic world.

"In the US, the president is definitely the supreme executive authority. But as a democratic state, the US considers the president as not being everything," he said.

Earlier in the day, Din Sjamsuddin, the chief of Muhammadiyah, the country's second largest Islamic organization, said President Obama's visit must not be made a problem nor rejected and the Islamic community in particular must welcome him as a guest.

"According to Islamic teachings welcoming a guest is a good deed. Therefore, Obama's arrival must be welcomed and accepted just like the presidents of other countries," he said.

Din said he believed President Obama by visiting Indonesia wished to meet part of his election campaign promise, namely to build better relationships with the Islamic world.

He deplored the stance of several organizations that reject Obama's visit.

"I hope people will respect and accept the US President. After all, Obama also has an emotional relationship with Indonesia as he once attended an elementary school in Jakarta," he said.

While in Indonesia, President Obama is scheduled to also meet and hold discussions with leaders of Islamic groups including chief of the Al Mukmin boarding school in Sukoharjo, Abu Bakar Ba'asyir.