Islamists rally to demand creation of Muslim state

Shouting "Allah is great", and waving black and white flags, about 80,000 members of the radical Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir gathered in a sports stadium in Jakarta yesterday to call for the creation of a Muslim state spanning the Islamic world.

Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is banned in several countries, including France, Germany and the Netherlands, has a strong following in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim state. Delegates at the Bung Karno Stadium had also come from Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Two speakers - Imran Waheed from Britain, and Ismail Al Wahwah from Australia - were refused entry into Indonesia. The decision by immigration authorities was denounced by Ismail Yusanto, a spokesman for the group's Indonesian branch. "Those responsible for this are being paranoid," he said. "This has hurt our freedom of expression."

Britain has considered outlawing Hizb ut-Tahrir, which was founded in Jerusalem in 1953. But Tony Blair, decided against it, after being advised by police that a ban would merely force it underground.

Critics say that its ideology is close to that of violent jihadist groups, and that it radicalises young Muslims who then choose a path of violence. Hizb ut-Tahrir insists that it opposes violence, and it has denounced terrorist bombings in London, Madrid and Bali. It has a strong presence on university campuses in Britain, some of which have banned it.

The radical Indonesian Muslim cleric, Abu Bakar Bashir, was scheduled to address the biannual international rally. But organisers asked him to withdraw, after police raised security concerns. Mr Bashir served two years in Jakarta's Cipinang jail after being convicted of involvement in the 2002 Bali bombings. The conviction was later overturned by the Supreme Court.

Another hardline Indonesian cleric, Habieb Rizieq, was also advised by police not to attend.

Many of Hizb ut-Tahrir's supporters arrived in convoys of buses from other regions of Java, Indonesia's main island, and neighbouring Sumatra island. Amid music and prayer, speakers called for a renewed commitment to revive the Caliphate - a single state across the Muslim world - through peaceful means.

Mr Yusanto said: "After the destruction of the Caliphate, tragedy after tragedy has descended on the Muslim world. Our nation has been divided into 50, and the infidel colonialists picked rulers in each."

Salim Frederick, of the group's English branch, said: "We need to carry this message from every corner from the east to west, so that on judgement day we can be proud." Erni Tri, a 40-year-old teacher who had driven for two hours with her husband and three children to attend the rally, said that she liked the group because it was "firm and uncompromising towards un-Islamic cultures". She said: "It is driven by love for Allah and has no hidden agenda to get votes or power."

Although the group's gatherings are usually peaceful, the United States embassy in Jakarta had warned its citizens to avoid going near the stadium.

Abdullar Gymnastiar, a popular and moderate Indonesian preacher, said it "hurts our feelings" to be labelled as radical. "We don't tolerate at all to engage in violence, especially terrorist action," he said. Abdul Wahid, chairman of Hizb ut-Tahrir in Britain, condemned the deportation of Dr Waheed. He said in a statement yesterday: "Hizb ut-Tahrir has spearheaded a crucial debate on the future for the Muslim world - an alternative to corruption and dictatorship.

"We hear endless rhetoric about a battle of ideas, but the only action we see are bans, smears and an attempt to silence debate."