Letter: US Embassy: ‘Selamat Idul Fitri’

The staff of the US Embassy in Indonesia would like to express our sincere good wishes for a joyous Idul Fitri to the Muslim community throughout our host nation.  We understand and appreciate the warm spirit of peace, forgiveness and compassion that this holy time brings to Indonesia and Muslims around the world.  Ambassador-Designate Scot Marciel, his wife Mae and Chargé d’Affaires Ted Osius visited the Istiqlal Mosque today to show their respect for Indonesian Islam and to discuss the meaning of Idul Fitri with mosque leaders.

The high regard and appreciation that the US Embassy holds for Idul Fitri and Islam reflects the feelings of most Americans.  We live in a multi-ethnic society like Indonesia that cherishes the right of all people to worship the religion of their choice.  Americans view this as a virtue and strength, much as Indonesians are proud of their unity in diversity.

In this spirit of tolerance and religious freedom, the embassy wishes to state unequivocally that the US government condemns the plan of a small church group in Gainesville, Florida to burn a Holy Koran on Sept. 11 — the anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks.  We believe firmly in freedom of religion and freedom of expression; they are universal rights, enshrined in the US Constitution and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We reaffirm our position that the deliberate destruction of any holy book is an abhorrent act.

This would be a provocative event, one that a vast majority of Americans reject. Indeed, leading Americans of all faiths have condemned this offensive plan.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton noted at an Iftar she hosted on Sept. 7 that “I am heartened by the clear, unequivocal condemnation of this disrespectful, disgraceful act that has come from American religious leaders of all faiths, from evangelical Christians to Jewish rabbis, as well as secular US leaders and opinion-makers.”  

Public condemnation of this event has come from a variety of religious organizations including the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), the Southern Baptist Convention, the Anti-Defamation League and other Christian churches in Gainesville, Fla. The Commander of US Forces in Afghanistan Gen. David Petraeus condemned the plan and local officials in Gainesville have been attempting to prevent this despicable demonstration of religious insensitivity.

Please be assured of our highest respect for the Holy Koran and Islam as one of the world’s great religions. The US Embassy would like to wish our many Indonesian Muslim friends “Happy Idul Fitri” on behalf of the US government and people. 

Paul Belmont
US Embassy spokesperson
Jakarta