Indonesian President Joko Widodo has opened an international conference on Islam's moderation to combat terrorism and sectarianism. The event, which was held yesterday in Western Nosatangara in Lombok island of Indonesia, was attended by D. Abdullah bin Abdulmohsen Al-Turki, Secretary General of Makkah-Based Muslim World League. Addressing the gathering, the President called on thinkers, Ulema and callers to exert more effort to conquer the deviant thoughts, confirming that Islam calls for moderation and rejection of extremism and violence. He lauded the efforts being exerted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, his Crown Prince and Deputy Crown Prince, on combating terrorism and sectarianism and spreading of moderation. In a key speech, Dr. Al-Turki confirmed that extremism leads to violence and terrorism in the name of martyrdom or promotion of virtue or prevention of vice or so, hoping that the conference would contribute to enhancing the unity of the Islamic nation and spread of the culture of moderation and confrontation of sectarianism.
