MUSLIMS ADVISED TO RESPECT X'MAS

Pangkalpinang, Dec 24 (ANTARA) - A local Islamic figure Thursday called on Muslims in Bangka Belitung province to respect Christians who are celebrating Christmas in the region.

"I call on all Muslims in Bangka Belitung to respect Christians who are celebrating Christmas," Chief of the provincial chapter of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) H.Usman Fatan he said.

Christmas is a holiday for Christians worldwide and Muslims must respect it, he said.

"Christmas is a Christian holiday and Muslims must respect it in the same way as Christians respect Muslim holidays," he said.

While Christians are performing services at churches, Muslims must refrain from any action that may insult them, he said.

"We must preserve peaceful conditions while Christians are performing services at churches. Don't take action that may offend them," he said.

Muslims who have a little knowledge of religion should not ridicule the way how Christians are performing services at churches, he said.

"Don't ridicule the way how Christians perform services at church because it is different from the way how Muslims perform services at mosque," he said.

He also asked local Muslims to keep tolerance among adherents of different faith in the province.