Islam’s image has improved: Hassan

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Mon, 09/29/2008 6:38 AM  |  Headlines

Islamophobia has decreased around the world but the Muslim community must continue its efforts to correct inaccurate perceptions about Islam, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda has said.

Hassan made the comments during a speech during the annual coordination meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Friday (Saturday in Jakarta).

“When we met here (New York) last year we were concerned about the negative image of Islam in various parts of the world. Now the frequency of incidents related to Islamophobia has declined,” Hassan said, as quoted by Antara news agency.

Hassan said the decline in Islamophobia was the result of various parties better communicating that Islam was a peace-loving and compassionate religion.

In this regard Indonesia, he said, had continued to make efforts to convince the world of the true teachings of Islam.

Such efforts included hosting the Third International Conference of Islamic Scholars in Jakarta in July, a global intermedia dialogue and an interfaith youth camp.

Hassan later said in his speech at the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly that the UN Security Council must be democratized and must allow for Muslim representation.

“Democratization of the council also means an equitable distribution of its membership not only in terms of geographical representation, where we already have imbalances but also in terms of constituencies,” Hassan said in his speech, a copy of which was obtained by The Jakarta Post.

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Iain (not verified) — Mon, 10/06/2008 - 12:46pm

Typial... can't win then over with the attraction of the religion, so let's get into power and mandate everyone's respect.

Isn't that why it is illegal to insult Islam but not other religions?

What happened to the 5 religions principles of the Pancicila? MERDEKA to all.

Hoashi (not verified) — Mon, 10/06/2008 - 10:48am

well...as usual... one just can see another from negative view...
as the positive ones will be demolished from yer thoughts..
in fact, ye must see islam as the positive and negative also... not just as the negative things...
and i guess.. not only moslems and all about islam represent the bad islamic thought..
as also, you can find another bad followers of any other religions...not just in islam...
see everything in positive and negative ....
if you see everything's in negative... you will find your self always in disappointment viewing every thing....
learning better and deeper of something... then you can say/type/decide: it's good,bad...or even worst..

Brien (not verified) — Sat, 10/04/2008 - 8:57pm

"UNITED NATIONS" - NATIONS, understand?!? NOT 'United Religions'.
NO, there is absolutely no need for Muslim representation, Or any other religion, in an organization of countries.
Let us also not forget that Islamic nations that have actually had 'fair democratic' elections have become theocracies, and then promptly banned all human rights and individual rights, essentially destroying liberty and freedom - which are the real basis for democracy - not just majority rule, vis a vis, religious majority.
Hassan has shown a diminished comprehension of reality. "the frequency of incidents related to Islamophobia has declined" is directly related to the security and intelligence forces of the world in combating these deranged followers of his true religion. The Foreign Minister, speaking, as a Religious Minister, is just proving the world's perception that Indonesia is becoming another Islamic state.
There is no 'decline of Islamophobia' as he also states; to the contrary, Indonesia, and especially its members of parliament, live in a constant state of fear of being accused of being 'un-Islamic'.

Jon (not verified) — Mon, 09/29/2008 - 8:33pm

How funny when in Indonesia islam is trying to push a porn law into place attacking christians schools closing down churches without any legal action taken against them, and now he say that islamophobia is less then before well he is very wrong people including muslims themself are starting to be islamophobic how couldnt you be a few days ago the talibans killd a woman chief of police. Islam is the one to be blame for its islamophobia they all talk about peace but what do we see around us look at iran look at pakistan look at afganistan look at sudan look at nigeria look at Indonesia were islamist terrorist cant be executed because they killd innocent people but because it was for islam they are consider holy warriors. What I hate is that muslim are using democrasi to implente islam. Why should there be a islamic UN representative isnt islam a religion if islam is represent then what about the other religion. Why because its islam that it as or wants special treatment. Democrasi is what it is and religion doesnt come into the picture as democrasi as to be separated from religion to function. Iam starting to hear about islam democrasi, what is that sharia democrasi are you joking and if you are its of bad taste. Islam is being manipulated by multi national to take countries in hostage and indonesia is on the list. Hassan is a real muslim he looks to the world from his belly bottom. What a joke.