VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has urged the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to convey a joint stand condemning Quran burnings in several European countries.

During the OIC council of foreign ministers' extraordinary meeting on Monday, Marsudi said that Indonesia cannot tolerate the disregard of blasphemy toward the holy book, which is respected by billions of Muslims worldwide.

"In the forum, we reaffirmed our position that freedom of expression must not hurt those who have closeness and respect for holy books," said a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Teuku Faizasyah, during a press briefing on Tuesday.

During the meeting, OIC member states also affirmed their stand to call upon states to adopt legal measures and prohibit acts of blasphemy against the holy books of any religion, he added.

On July 12, 2023, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution condemning and strongly rejecting any advocacy of religious hatred, including the recent acts of desecration of the holy Quran. The resolution emphasized the need for holding those responsible accountable, in line with international human rights law obligations.

It also called upon states to adopt national laws, policies, and law enforcement frameworks that address, prevent, and prosecute acts and advocacy of religious hatred that incite discrimination, hostility, or violence, and to take immediate steps to ensure accountability.

At least five acts of desecration and Quran burning have been reported in 2023, all occurring in Europe.

One incident that drew global attention was that of an Iraqi immigrant in Sweden, Salwan Momika, holding a demonstration by burning the Quran outside a mosque in Stockholm on June 28, coinciding with Eid al-Adha.

The incident outraged Muslim-majority countries and raised questions about why such acts are allowed.

However, there is no law in Sweden specifically prohibiting the desecration of religious books. Like many Western countries, Sweden does not have any blasphemy laws. Moreover, freedom of speech is protected under the Swedish Constitution. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesia summoned the Danish and Swedish ambassadors in Jakarta to express its condemnation of continued acts involving the burning or desecration of the Quran in both countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters in Jakarta, ministry spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah said that the ministry summoned the Swedish ambassador on July 20, 2023, and called the power of attorney ad interim of the Danish embassy on July 24.

"We want to see justice (over how Sweden and Denmark) respond to issues, which are very sensitive," he added.

Indonesia, through its representatives in Stockholm and Copenhagen, also issued a statement strongly condemning incidents involving the burning of the Muslim holy book, the Quran.

Faizasyah emphasized that Indonesia does not accept the argument that such acts are permissible in the name of freedom of expression, and will continue to monitor the issue.

At least five acts of desecration and Quran burning have been reported in 2023 — all from Europe.

The latest incident occurred on Monday (July 31) when two Iraqi refugees living in Sweden, Salwan Momika and Salwan Najem, set fire to a copy of the Quran in front of the Swedish Parliament in Stockholm. They had previously burned a copy of the Quran, too.

Momika burnt a copy of the Quran in front of Stockholm's largest mosque on June 28, coinciding with Eid al-Adha.

He then desecrated the holy book of Islam, though he did not burn it, on July 20 in front of the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm.

There is no law in Sweden specifically prohibiting the burning or desecration of the Quran or other religious books. Like many Western countries, Sweden does not have any blasphemy laws.

Moreover, freedom of speech is protected under the Swedish Constitution.

Meanwhile, in Denmark, members of the Islamophobic and far-right nationalist group Danske Patrioter burned a copy of the Quran in front of the Iraqi embassy in Copenhagen on July 21.

The incident drew international outrage from Muslim-majority countries and raised questions about why such acts are being allowed.  (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesia has given Australia 60 days, that is, until September 12, 2023, to investigate the finding of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) in cattle imported from the country before it decides to stop accepting cattle imports from the continent.

The step has been taken following the clinical detection of LSD in cows from Australia.

"We are currently studying whether the type of virus that causes LSD in Indonesia is the same as in Australia," head of the Agricultural Quarantine Agency of the Republic of Indonesia (Barantan), Bambang, said at a press conference at the Ministry of Agriculture's Office here on Tuesday (August 1).

Australia has sought 60 days from the date the disease was detected (July 12) to investigate the findings. Meanwhile, Indonesia and Australia have both carried out in-depth testing, he said. 

He added that for 60 days Indonesia will not stop all imports of cattle from Australia, but only temporarily suspend imports from four farms that are strongly suspected to be where the disease originated. The disease is characterized by lumps on the skin of cows.

"We have not completely shut down imports, but temporarily stopped imports from four farms that we found were carrying LSD. Until 60 days later, if the allegation is declared negative, then the import will continue. But, if it proves positive, we will stop importing it," he said.

LSD was detected in thirteen imported cattle brought from four farms in Australia during document and physical examinations conducted on board by Tanjung Priok agricultural quarantine officers at Tanjung Priok Port, Jakarta, from May 25 to July 26.

The officials made a special mark on the imported cattle showing clinical symptoms for further sampling.

On July 12, Barantan began sending letters to the Australian government through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry (DAFF) to investigate the LSD findings.

"From the results of laboratory tests, LSD was detected positive and the cows were immediately destroyed under the supervision of a quarantine veterinarian," he informed.

"We found that the clinical symptoms of LSD in imported cattle continued to increase. Therefore, we decided to suspend imports from the four facilities," he said.

If it is proven that LSD transmission has occurred in Australian farms, the Australian government must not cover it up and immediately take action to stop LSD spread, Bambang added.

"Basically, we agree that these findings are good for Indonesia and Australia. If that's true, I don't think Australia needs to cover it up by saying they are still LSD-free," he said.

"If that's true, they should openly say that there was indeed an infection at four farms so they need to take steps and shut it down, and no longer ship it to Indonesia," he added. (Antaranews)

Pakistan announced an increase in petrol and diesel prices on Tuesday to meet fiscal objectives laid down in a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), adding further fuel to its sky-high inflation.

The country's Consumer Price Index rose to 28.3% in July, year-on-year, the statistics bureau said in a statement on Tuesday, with prices up 3.5% in July from the previous month.

In June, the CPI rise was 29.4% year-on-year, coming off a record 38% in May.

In a recorded video statement, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said gasoline, or petrol, prices would be raised by 19.95 Pakistani rupees to 272.95 Pakistani rupees ($0.952) per litre and diesel by 19.90 rupees to 273.40 rupees per litre, an increase of 7.8% for both fuels.

Fuel prices have increased sharply in global markets in the last 15 days, Dar said, adding his government had tried to minimise the hike. Benchmark Brent crude oil prices climbed 16% during July.

He said the country was not in a position to deviate from the IMF's standby agreement, finalised on June 30 after eight months of negotiations over tough fiscal discipline measures.

"You all know the international commitments we have with the IMF regarding the petroleum levy," he said, adding the increase could have been smaller without the pledges.

Islamabad has committed to a petroleum levy of up to 50 rupees a litre, alongside a string of painful measures, including raising extra revenues, increasing energy prices and a market-based exchange rate, which has already fuelled inflation.

Dar did not say what the levy was in his statement on Tuesday, but last month he said the government would try to keep it at about 45 rupees a litre.

The IMF has also called on Pakistan to maintain a tight monetary policy. The central bank on Monday, however, kept the policy rate steady at 22%, with its governor saying the lender's requirement for tight policy didn't necessarily mean raising the rate.

"We doubt this marks the end of the tightening cycle," said Captial Economics, a global analysis group, in a statement issued Monday.

"With inflation likely to remain above target for some considerable time and the upside risks to prices building, we expect further rate hikes later this year," it added.

The petroleum price increases and the sky-rocketing inflation will have political implications for Dar's coalition government just months before a general election where it will see former prime minister Imran Khan's party as the main opponent. (reuters)