British PM Criticized As Being Not Neutral Towards Islam

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The executive director of Maarif Institute, Fajar Riza Ul Haq, has criticized British prime minister David Cameron as being not neutral with regard to Islam with his program against "Islam extremism."

"The use of the term 'Islam extremism' by Cameron in his campaigh shows that he is not neutral," he said in a press statement received here on Wednesday.

He suggested that the British head of government would use a better term which is acceptable by all religious adherents.

He said he thought the term of extremism motivated by religion would be more neutral because it would not refer to certain religion.

Cameron had launched a campaign against Islam extremism following the killings of 30 British tourists in Tunisia and the participation of hundreds of British youths in the ISIS group.

Fajar said during a dialog with the British prime minister along four other young figures in the Sunda Kelapa mosque here on Tuesday he had expressed his appreciation to the British prime minister who had honestly wished to learn from Indonesia with regard to its success in dealing with extremism since the Bali bombing tragedy.

Cameron, he said, admitted that extremism was found in all religions but he argued that he used the term of Islam extremism for cases in Britain.

Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo received British Prime Minister David Cameron, who is visiting the country, at Merdeka Palace here on Monday, July 27, afternoon.

The two state leaders held a bilateral meeting, which was followed by a meeting of delegations of the two countries. (WDY)