Jokowi condemns the declaration of the French president that is considered an insult to Islam

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

In addition, Jokowi also criticized the statement by the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, who was considered to have insulted Muslims.

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

“Second, Indonesia also strongly condemns the statement by the French president that insults Islam and has hurt the feelings of Muslims around the world,” he said.

Also read: Indonesia condemns the statement of the French president

According to Jokowi, Macron’s declaration could divide the unity of the world’s religious communities.

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

Jokowi continued, freedom of expression that injures the honor, sanctity and 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,” Jokowi said.

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

Also read: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs guarantees that no Indonesian citizen is a victim 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 various representatives of religious organizations.

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

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

Also read: Indonesia condemns the deadly attack in France

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

Paty was previously killed for showing cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad to his students in class on freedom of expression.

In the last two months there have been a series of bloody incidents after Charlie hebdo publishes the cartoon.

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