06 Feb 2006 16:31

Press Statement by the President of the Republic of Indonesia Regarding the Condemnable Case of Religion Defamation

1. The Government of the Republic of Indonesia condemns to the strongest possible terms the reprehensible incident of last year’s publication of caricatures of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) in the Danish newspaper Jylland Posten and their recent recurrence and reprinting in some of the media in Western Europe. These incidents clearly demonstrate the obnoxious insensitivity over the belief and teaching of Islam.

2. The condemnable defamation of Islam and the desecration of the image of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) have hurt the feeling of the Islamic Ummah. The justification for such incidents by invoking the principle of freedom of expression is obviously mistaken and unacceptable. In accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), Article 29, indeed, human rights possess no absolute quality in the sense that their implementation shall not in any way reduce the rights nor defame and desecrate the beliefs, teachings, values and symbols of a certain religion.

3. Closely following these condemnable incidents and very offensive acts, the Government of the Republic of Indonesia together with fellow member states of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) have taken collective steps to strongly urge the Government of Denmark for immediate corrective measures. The Final Communique of the Third Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit Conference in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, 7 – 8 December 2005 has emphasized, among others, the collective steps to counter Islamophobia the world over. The United Nations General Assembly has also adopted a resolution on January 20, 2006 unequivocally urging the international community to combat defamation of religions.

4. The Government of Indonesia understands the reactions and protests currently taking place in the Indonesian community which have been provoked by such condemnable defamation of Islam and desecration of the image of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). However, as a nation deeply abiding and respecting the noble teaching of religions, it is incumbent for us all in Indonesia to accept the sincere apology expressed by the Government of Denmark through Danish Ambassador in Jakarta and that by the chief editor of the Danish newspaper Jylland Posten. We strongly urge that these reprehensible incident of defamation and desecration shall never happen again in the future. As previously stated, the Government of Indonesia has taken some steps through diplomatic channels in bilateral as well as multilateral context. The Government of Indonesia calls upon the people of Indonesia to remain calm and respect the law for our own interest.

5. These incidents have corroborated our deep conviction in Indonesia which has all along promoted and emphasized the need for a constructive inter-faith dialog and cooperation, not only among followers of different faiths in a certain country but also among various cultures and religions in different parts of the world. In this connection, we are committed to promote the existing process of interfaith dialog and cooperation in Asia-Pacific and the one involving Asia and Europe within the ASEM framework which Indonesia has co-sponsored.

Jakarta, 4 February 2006