Jokowi condemns the statement of the French president which is deemed insulting to Islam

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – President Joko Widodo delivered his response to the violence and acts of terror that occurred in France in recent times.

Other than that, Jokowi also condemned the statement of the French President, Emmanuel Macron which is considered insulting to Muslims.

“First, Indonesia strongly criticizes the violence that occurred in Paris and Nice, which has claimed lives,” Jokowi said as quoted from a press conference broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat YouTube channel, Saturday (31/10/2020) afternoon.

“Second, Indonesia also strongly condemns the statement of the French President which insults Islam which has hurt the feelings of Muslims around the world,” he said.

Also read: Indonesia condemns the statement of the French President

According to Jokowi, a statement Macron can divide interfaith associations in the world.

In fact, now the world needs unity to face the Covid-19 pandemic.

Jokowi continued, freedom of expression that injures honor, sanctity and the sacredness of religious values ​​and symbols cannot be justified at all and must be stopped.

“Associating religion with acts of terrorism is a big mistake. Terrorism is terrorism,” said Jokowi.

“Terrorists are terrorists. Terrorists have nothing to do with any religion,” he said.

Also read: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ensures No Indonesian Citizens Become Victims of Attacks in France

Finally, Jokowi said that Indonesia invited the world to prioritize religious unity and tolerance to build a better world.

During the press conference, Jokowi was accompanied by Vice President Ma’ruf Amin, ministers and a number of representatives of religious organizations.

Representatives who attended included the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Nahdatul Ulama, Muhammadiyah, the Indonesian Trustees Conference (KWI), the Indonesian Church Association (PGI), Parisadha Hindu Dharma Indonesia (PHDI), the Indonesian Buddhist Association (Permabudhi) and the Indonesian Council of Confucian Religions (Matakin).

Earlier, Macron’s remarks on Islam had also sparked outrage in Muslim-majority countries.

Also read: Indonesia condemns the deadly attack on France

Macron said he would fight against all forms of “Islamic separatism” after the beheading of a teacher named Samuel Paty outside Paris, in early October.

Paty was previously murdered for showing cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad to his students in class about free speech.

In the last two months there have been a number of bloody incidents after Charlie Hebdo publish the cartoon.

First, the attack near the office Charlie Hebdo on September 24; attack on security guards at the French Consulate office in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; and the attack that killed three people in Nice, Thursday (10/29/2020).

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