Thai Muslims Rally Nationwide for Ending War in AfghanistanIn an unprecedented move, tens of Thai Muslims launched peaceful rallies nationwide Sunday, calling for ending war in Afghanistan, the state-owned radio reported Monday morning.The largest gathering happened in the Muslim-dominated southern province of Pattani, 1,055 kilometers south of Bangkok, where an estimated 50,000 Muslims attended a prayer service. Similar prayer services were held in other provinces across central and southern Thailand. Meanwhile, the Bangkok-based Council of Muslim Organization of Thailand (CMOT), the organizer of the events, also urged a boycott of goods and services from the United States and its allies in the ongoing military strikes in Afghanistan. The CMOT collected signatures from participants of the boycotting campaign and would send it to the Organization of Islamic Conference and groups in the neighboring Muslim countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia to show their support. The organization stressed that all the protesting activities must be conducted peacefully. It also urged the United Nations to address the ongoing conflict and the violence between Israelis and Palestinians. Thai Muslims account for ten percent of total population, most of whom live in southern Thailand. |
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