Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa Tuesday decried Switzerland's referendum vote to ban the construction of new mosque minarets in the country, saying it was "discriminatory" and "violated the right to freedom of religion."
"We are deeply disappointed by the Swiss decision, which is contradictory to its image as an inclusive and tolerant nation," Marty told reporters after hosting an interfaith dialogue between Indonesian prominent religious leaders and Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, the President of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue at his office.
The new foreign minister said the controversial referendum in the European country reflected the need for more interfaith dialogues between religious communities as prejudice against Islam persists in Western countries. "We cannot afford to appreciate a policy that is based on ignorance," he said.
He stopped short of saying, however, whether he feared the new cultural disharmony between Islam and liberal Europe would spark violent protests in the Muslim world, with Indonesia having the biggest population, as happened in 2006 over the Danish cartoon controversy.
Your comments:
I can only assume this means Minister Marty will become the new champion of Ahmadiyah in Indonesia!
I'll be eagerly anticipating Marty accompanying groups of Ahmadis in protesting the failure of the Indonesian government to physically protect Ahmadi Muslims and ensure their freedom of religious worship, including building Ahmadi mosques.
Thank God Indonesia has finally begun the slow painful road to religious freedom.
Jhimmi
Dearbornistan, US
Let's not forget that a Swiss right-wing party has condemned the building of more minarets to be added to mosques in Switzerland. Therefore some have really missed the actual point of the issue posted here.
Nevertheless, I can also sympathize with the reaction of a few that in Indonesia there are also similar discriminating topics concerning the freedom of religious symbols and practices.
But the difference with us in America is that any political motivation shown on billboards publicly that are deemed offensive with regard to faith, race issues and immigration that may bring possible disagreement is discriminatory. I do agree that there may be issues raised in any nation in the world regarding unfamiliar culture, flowing immigration and organized faith spreading into a country.
But I would draw the line regarding political poster campaigns depicting offensive far-right-style epithets with misleading graphic information in this case on behalf of the Swiss right-wing party that have made a public political campaign all over Switzerland. The truth in the matter is that an issue of a faith was handled in a discriminating way (ignorance by fault), whether the move to ban minarets passes or not.
A.K.
Los Angeles
Can we build a church in Mecca and Medina please?
Helena van der Winden
Jakarta
Well let's get this straight: If Switzerland wants to ban minarets, it's fine, but then the world would categorize Saudis and Swiss as the same.
I just wish Switzerland wouldn't be hypocritical and say they are civilized and yet do things like this. I wouldn't like it if some other country bans the cross on the top of all the churches (like in parts of Indonesia?). Now think about it.
Roger Sam
UK
For domestic consumption Marty has, as usual, made a strong statement. Ignorance? Yes. Just one quick question: Is it possible to build a church in Mecca like the giant mosque in front of the Vatican?
Is there a single church in Saudi Arabia compared to 100 mosques in Switzerland? Is it a tolerant country when the majority builds a "Berlin Wall" in Tangerang, Banten, to prevent Indonesian Christians from attending their "illegal" church?
Christians get beheaded when they demand to build churches in the Arab world.
So Marty, it's better to refrain from making any ridiculous statement if in your own backyard you can't even guarantee freedom of religion for all citizens.
Eddy Chong
Canberra
This is the most unfortunate statement from the representative of a country that allows mobs of Muslims to attack and to close down places of worship, usually Christian.
Neo Mecer
England
