REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PEKANBARU -- Representatives of 14 countries in the world will attend World Conference of Grand Imam (Konferensi Imam Besar Masjid Se-Dunia) at Aryadutha Hotel, Pekanbaru, Riau. The aim is to form a World Grand Imam Council.

"This conference is series of Islamic Solidarity Games, which was held in June 2013. It will be held on December 3-6, 2013 in Pekanbaru, Riau," Chairman of Organizing Committee, Tengku Dahril said recently.

There are four countries that will not attend the conference, such as Saudi Arabia and Australia. Saudi Arabian Grand Imam did not get the royal permission, while Australian Grand Imam cannot come as tensions in relationship between Indonesia and Australia over wiretapping case some time ago.

The 14 countries, which will attend the conference, are Iraq, Russia, Kuwait, South Africa, Pakistan, Tunisia, Cuba, Palestine, Senegal, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, France and Indonesia as the host.

"Indonesian Grand Imam representatives will come from Jakarta, Yogyakarta, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, East Kalimantan, all provinces in Sumatra and all districts in Riau," Dahril said on Monday.

The conference will be conducted on theme; the Role of Grand Imams in Civilization. Grand Imam role is seen very strategic in building civilizations through mosques and Grand Imam council. The new council will have a structure, secretariat and council.

The organizing committee of the conference will schedule a tahajjud prayer - a night prayer- activity which is performed at night after having a sleep a while after isha prayer - for a whole month, which will be led by Grand Imam who are present at the conference. 

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