KH Said Aqil Siroj, the chief of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) organization, raised the question here on Wednesday in a meeting with European Union ambassador Julian Wilson.
In the meeting at the NU Headquarters Said Aqil said NATO had so far been spiritual attacking Muslim countries under the name of protecting the people and democracy while on the other hand had never touched Israel that had several times violated the resolutions of the UN Security Council.
"Israel has many times made violations and received resolutions from the UN Security Council but no action has ever been taken by NATO. So what is actually going on," he said.
Said Aqil said principles of justice and human rights must be respected without regard to racial, national or religious differences.
"I agreed with NATO`s action to protect the people but it must be done fairly," he said.
On the occasion Said Aqil also raised concern over an increasing tendency in religious intolerance among different religious followers referring to the ban on burqa in France, construction of minaretes in Switzerland or Koran burning in the US.
He said "Prophet Mohammad and Jesus Christ certainly do not agree with intolerant actions of their followers."
Julian Wilson meanwhile said the EU had continued seeking interfaith dialogs to build communications and understanding as well protect minority groups in Europe.
On the occasion the EU and NU signed a memorandum of understanding to develop among others agricultural and fishery sectors, education, entrepreneurship, the environment, forestry, Islamic economy, science, human rights, health, information technology, telecommunication, protection of minority groups and interfaith dialogs.
Said Aqil said the cooperation would be developed with commitment to supporting Indonesian development in terms of pluralism, tolerance and respect to democracy and human rights including the rights of the minorities.(*)
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Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
