Kharishar Kahfi, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has responded to the issue of a Makassar-based bakery's refusal to write a Christmas greeting on top of a cake a customer had ordered, calling it a part of freedom of expression.

The council's deputy chairman, Zainut Tauhid Sa'adi, said in a statement on Monday that the MUI could not prohibit anyone from having an opinion on whether it was allowed for Muslims to say "Merry Christmas."

"Ulemas have been split on the issue. The MUI welcomes every Muslim to choose according to their beliefs," Zainut said.

"We can't prohibit a bakery from refusing to write the greeting on the cake. At the same time, we can't condemn the ones serving customers by writing 'Merry Christmas'," he went on to say.

Zainut added that the council suggested for people to become wiser in responding to differences of opinion, so the debate would not create disturb religious harmony in the country.

"The MUI leaves a message for all Muslims to keep the principles of both Islam and brotherhood among fellow children of the nation," Zainut said.

On Sunday, a Makassar-based bakery refused a customer's request to write Selamat hari Natal keluargaku (Merry Christmas my family) on top of a cake she had ordered. The bakery, Chocolicious Indonesia, believes that it did nothing wrong, saying the policy should by no means be interpreted as an act of intolerance. (wit)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/12/25/muslims-may-choose-over-christmas-greeting-mui.html