Muslim hardliner group calls to implement sharia law in Indonesia

In the Indonesian capita, several hundreds of Hizbut Tahrir followers, rallied to the National Monument in downtown Jakarta, carrying banners and pamphlets, calling the Muslim followers to improve their devotion ahead the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

"Strengthen our determination in order to uphold sharia," read one banner unfurled by the protestors.

Hizbut Tahrir is a Sunni organisation that advocates Islamic rule is banned in several Middle Eastern countries. But more than 80,000 supporters of the group rallied in Indonesia last month and called for a caliphate, or Islamic rule, to govern the world.

"Ramadan is the best moment to call all Muslims to implement sharia," Elshinta private radio quoted as saying Ismail Yusanto, spokesman for the international group Hizbut Tahrir.

A similar rally by Hizbut Tahrir members also took place in other cities, including in the East Java capital of Surabaya and Makassar, the provincial capital of South Sulawesi, reported detik.com online news service.

Although the group is seen by many as radical, it does not support violence to obtain its objective.

Muslims all over the world will begin observing Ramadan this week. During the holy month they are expected to refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk in order to focus on the spiritual.

With more than 88 per cent of the country's 225 million people adhered Islam, making Indonesia home to the world's most-populous Muslim nation. Most of them are moderate, though hardliners have gained a foothold in recent years, with some regions and cities imposing Islamic-styled laws.

//Deutsche Presse-Agentur