Intolerance claim overblown: NU

JAKARTA: Despite the fact that some religious minorities have been prevented from performing services, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) executive board chairman Said Aqil Siradj still considers the country to be religiously tolerant.

”I agree that we still face problems, such as the case concerning the Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) Yasmin in Bogor. However, it would be unfair to judge the overall situation in the whole country by that case alone,” Siradj said on Tuesday as quoted by Antara news agency.

Siradj said cases of religious intolerance should be considered as ongoing homework that needed to be finished. That’s why he and the NU, the largest Muslim mass organization in the country, are pushing for regular interfaith dialogues. “Let’s discuss things so that we can settle these disputes wisely,” he said.