Mahfud MD Asks For Protests Over President Macron's Statement Being Carried Out Orderly And Not Being Anarchist

Press statement of the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD (screenshot of the Presidential Secretariat Youtube)

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD reminded that protests against French President Emmanuel Macron's statement relating Islam to terrorism should be carried out according to regulations. Every act of protest including the demonstration against Macron must not be anarchistic.

"Particularly for the situation or maintaining the political and security situation in Indonesia, we from the government call for every effort to express or express an opinion related to what the French president has stated so that it is done orderly, not damaging," Mahfud MD said in a press conference that was broadcast. Presidential Secretariat Youtube, Saturday, October 31st.

Mahfud who was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi and Minister of Religion Fachrul Razi said that no party in Indonesia could be held responsible with Macron's statement.

"Therefore you are welcome if you want to submit aspirations, express opinions, convey criticism. But convey it in an orderly manner and do not violate the law, "he said.

"Nothing here should be considered responsible, whether it is an institution, a company or a person or other (related to) President Macron's statement," Mahfud continued.

Previously, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) criticized French President Emmanuel Macron's statement which he considered insulting religion and Muslims. Jokowi said that the world needs unity amid the COVID-19 pandemic, not a divisive statement.

"Indonesia strongly condemns the statement of the French President which insults the religion of Islam which has hurt the feelings of Muslims around the world which could divide the unity between religious communities in the world at a time when the world needs unity to face the COVID-19 pandemic," Jokowi said in his statement.

Jokowi emphasized that Macron's statement linking religion to acts of terrorism was a big mistake. "Terrorism is terrorism. Terrorists are terrorists. Terrorism has nothing to do with anything," he stressed.

Jokowi also asked that freedom of expression which injures the honor of chastity and the sacred values of religious symbols must be stopped. Because this kind of thing cannot be justified.

Not only that, President Jokowi also emphasized that Indonesia strongly condemns the violence that occurred in Paris and Nice.