RELIGION

Indonesia calls on Islamic leaders to promote tolerant Islam

Associated Press
Published | Updated

FILE - In this Oct. 2, 2015 file photo, Indonesia's Vice President Jusuf Kalla addresses the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters. Kalla on Monday, May 9, 2016 called on Islamic leaders to spread messages about a tolerant Islam to curb extremism that often springs from misinterpretation of Islamic teachings. Speaking at the opening of the International Summit of the Moderate Islamic Leaders, Kalla said he believes that youths who don't have deep faith are susceptible to be militants, not for wealth or political cause, but rather as a "shortcut" to heaven. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Oct. 2, 2015 file photo, Indonesia's Vice President Jusuf Kalla addresses the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters. Kalla on Monday, May 9, 2016 called on Islamic leaders to spread messages about a tolerant Islam to curb extremism that often springs from misinterpretation of Islamic teachings. Speaking at the opening of the International Summit of the Moderate Islamic Leaders, Kalla said he believes that youths who don't have deep faith are susceptible to be militants, not for wealth or political cause, but rather as a "shortcut" to heaven. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle, File) (The Associated Press)

Indonesia's vice president is calling on Islamic leaders to spread messages about a tolerant Islam to curb extremism that often springs from misinterpretation of Islamic teachings.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla said he believes that youths who don't have deep faith are susceptible to be militants, not for wealth or political cause, but rather as a "shortcut" to heaven.

He spoke at the International Summit of the Moderate Islamic Leaders, which opened Monday in Jakarta.

The meeting organized by Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia's largest Muslim organization, is expected to produce a message about the importance of promoting a peaceful Islam to combat radicalism worldwide.

Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation. Militants have carried out a spate of attacks including the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people, mostly foreign tourists.