Monday, March 31, 2008
President: World Leaders Have Moral Obligation to Prevent Religious Defamation
Source: Antara News

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that world leaders have a moral obligation to prevent religious or cultural defamation as depicted in the Fitna movie picture.

The remark was made by President Yudhoyono in a press conference at his office here on Monday evening.

"I am of the opinion that the world leaders have a moral obligation to prevent religious defamation as depicted in Fitna film, in bringing about peace in the world," he said.

The president called on the international community not to use freedom without limit which would ruin and offend the feeling of believers of other religious creeds, life.

The head of state hoped that all parties should not disrupt the efforts already made by other religious believers to create a bridge between the different cultures.

It was said how the efforts made by Indonesia and Norway to create an inter-religious dialogue following the publication of cartoon which was an insult to Prophet Muhammad and Moslems across the world.

In the meantime, a protest and denunciation from Indonesia and some other countries against the film made by Wilders were sounding high following the emergence of Dutch Prime Minister Peter Balkenende on television to explain his government's stance which also deplored the film.

In the Fitna movie picture, Wilders linked terrorist action to Islamic extremists and verses in the Koran published through the Internet website www.liveleak.com on Thursday evening (March 28).

Wilders described the holy Koran as a fascist book calling on religious believers to perpetuate violence.