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REUTERS, Friday September 21 2001 7:41 AM ET
Sales of Bin Laden T-Shirts Soar in Indonesia
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Sales of T-shirts bearing the picture of Muslim militant Osama bin Laden (http://azzam.com/html/articlesdeclaration.htm) have surged in Indonesia, home of the world's largest Islamic population, since Washington named him as its chief suspect in last week's attacks.
``Today, we sold twice as many as usual. It has been like this since (the U.S. accused bin Laden),'' Andi Cut Muthia, a 30-year-old mother of three who prints and distributes the shirts, told Reuters on Friday.
Washington has demanded that Afghanistan (news - web sites) hand over bin Laden, accusing him of masterminding the September 11 air attacks on Washington and New York in which more than 6,000 people died.
The $3 T-shirts come in three styles, one with the words ''Islam is my blood.''
Muthia said business had never been better given the growing number of protesters against the U.S. stand.
``With these shirts, we are also spreading the word. Osama is a hero...a defender of Islam and human rights. The world should not perceive Islam as a religion of terrorists,'' said the veiled businesswoman whose shop also sells Islamic books and tapes.
Indonesia's radical Islamic groups, which have small but very vocal support, have set the tone, vowing to declare a holy war on the United States if it attacks Afghanistan to demolish bin Laden's Al-Qaeda organization.
Not all those buying Muthia's shirts are making a religious statement, though. Some are simply looking for a change of style.
``I've heard about this shop but never dropped in. This is my first time,'' said student Gatot Setiawan, 24.
``But a lot of my friends have bought them,'' he said, putting on his new T-shirt.
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