Jusuf Kalla Voices Concern Over Charlie Hebdo Attack

 Jakarta (Antara Bali) -- Vice President Jusuf Kalla has expressed concern over the attack perpetrated by some gunmen on Charlie Hebdo's media office in Paris, France, on Wednesday.

        "The Indonesian government condemns the attack. Such acts cannot be justified," Kalla said here on Thursday.

        Such attempts in any form and anywhere, including in Indonesia, should be rejected, he noted.

        He cautioned that Indonesian citizens must take notice of the incident because it can happen anywhere.

        However, Indonesia did not issue travel warnings to its citizens regarding visiting the city, he added.

        "We believe each state can overcome such acts," the vice president affirmed.

        Kalla pointed out that such terror-related issues occur everywhere and if all nations issued travel warnings in the wake of such acts, it would affect other countries.

        Earlier, Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) condemned the killing of 12 people, including several journalists and police officers, in a firefight at Charlie Hebdo's office in France at 11.30 a. m. (2 p. m. CET) on Wednesday (January 7).

        "MUI condemns the killing of the members of the media in France as it is against humanitarian and Islamic values," Chairman of MUI's Foreign Affairs and International Relations Muhyidin Junaidi said here on Thursday.

        He remarked that the perpetrators of the deadly attack did not represent the Muslim community as a whole, although they reportedly recited "Allahu akbar" before firing.

        Muhyidin stated that Muslims had no right to kill anyone.

        "We object to the content of Charlie Hebdo, although they are published on the basis of freedom of expression. But it was not right to protest against the content of the French satirical weekly by murdering people. Their action goes against Islamic values because protests can be registered within the realm of law," he explained.

        Islam propagates the limits of expression. "Islam mentions a limit to expressing something, especially something about the Prophet," he noted. (WDY)