JAKARTA, Indonesia(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Muhammadiyah, Indonesia`s second largest Islamic organization, has expressed regret over the French ban on the use of burqa and other Islamic face coverings in public places in the country.
"I regret the fact that France is banning the use of burqa and veils. The ban pays no respect to the freedom of religion which is part of democracy," Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin said at a meeting with Director General for Southeast Asia at the French Foreign Ministry Charles Henri Brossoeau here on Wednesday.
Din said there had been many misunderstandings between western and Islamic countries, giving rise to "Islamofobia" views on the part of the western community.Islam taught its adherents peace instead of violence, he said.
As the world`s largest Muslim country, Indonesia therefore needed to establish close cooperation with western countries to eliminate the view, he said.
"Admittedly, Indonesia differs from France about state and religion. Indonesia is not a secular country but it has ideological tenet called Pancasila which also carries the principle of Belief in God," he said.
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