Rally backs return to single Muslim rule

MORE than 70,000 members of a hardline group held a rally in Indonesia that heard calls for a caliphate — a single Muslim government across the Islamic world.

The supporters of the Hizbut Tahrir group filled most of an 80,000-seat sports stadium in the capital Jakarta, waving flags as they heard fiery speeches saying it was “time for the caliphate to reign”.

Hizbut Tahrir said the gathering was aimed at strengthening Muslims’ commitment to revive the caliphate, which had been in place until 1924, through peaceful means.