Bakery’s refusal to write ‘Merry Xmas’ ignites debate

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PETALING JAYA: An Indonesian bakery’s refusal to write a Christmas greeting on a cake for a customer has ignited debate among netizens there as the country faces increasing Islamic conservatism and rising identity politics.

The Jakarta Post reported yesterday that the Makassar-based Chocolicious Indonesia rejected the customer’s request to write “Selamat Hari Natal Keluargaku” (“Merry Christmas, my family”) on top of a cake she had ordered.

It said netizens, whether Muslim or Christian, were sharply divided over the company’s policy.

Many social media users condemned the bakery as “racist”, “fanatics” and “unfit to live in Indonesia”, it said.

Journalist Dandhy Dwi Laksono was quoted as saying in a tweet: “In the case of Chocolicious, what if the word ‘Christmas’ in the decorous sentence was replaced by ‘Idul Fitri’?

“Or what if the same attitude were displayed by chocolate farmers in Flores who refused to serve their buyers who celebrate Idul Fitri?”

However, Burhanuddin Muhtadi, a political analyst from Jakarta Islamic State University, said the bakery had the right to refuse the request.

“Other people also have the right to buy cakes from other shops if they feel uncomfortable with (the bakery owner’s) religious interpretation,” he was quoted as saying.

According to the Jakarta Post report, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), the highest Islamic clerical body in the country, did not prohibit Muslims from greeting Christians on their holiday.

“The late Buya Hamka, one of the most influential Muslim clerics in Indonesia, also made it clear that Muslims were permitted to say ‘Merry Christmas’ despite many Muslims basing their argument against Christmas greetings on a 1981 MUI fatwa (edict) released by Hamka,” the report said.

It also cited Chocolicious Indonesia as insisting that it did nothing wrong and the policy should not be interpreted as an act of intolerance.

“With all due respect and humility, first of all, we would like to offer our deepest regrets.

“We from Chocolicious Indonesia are not yet able to write ‘Merry Christmas’ or other similar expressions,” the bakery was quoted as saying on Instagram.

“This does not mean we do not respect your religion.

“But with all due respect, this is what we have to practise, based on our religious principles,” it added.

On Nov 1, Johor had followed Singapore’s lead in banning two Muslim preachers, Zimbabwe grand mufti Ismail Menk and Malaysian Haslin Baharim, from giving lectures in the state.

Singapore’s home ministry, which barred the duo from entering the republic, said Ismail was known to preach “segregationist and divisive teachings” such as calling it a sin and crime for a Muslim to wish non-Muslims “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Deepavali”. Haslin was said to have described non-Muslims as “deviant”.

Dengan segala kerendahan hati dan segala hormat. Sebelumnya kami mohon maaf yang sebesar-besarnya. Kami dari Chocolicious Indonesia belum bisa memberikan atau menyediakan tulisan ucapan selamat Natal dan semisalnya. ㅤ Bukan berarti kami tidak menghargai agama mas/mba. Akan tetapi dengan segala hormat inilah yang harus kami jalankan dari prinsip agama kami. Sekali lagi kami mohon maaf dari hati kami yang paling tulus dan rasa saling menghormati dan menghargai sebagai anak bangsa Indonesia. ㅤ Kami tetap menyediakan kartu ucapan dan papan cokelat sebagai kelengkapan pesanan mas/mba. Silakan diberikan ucapan sendiri. Sekali lagi, kami mohon perkenaannya. ㅤ We love you, Chocolovers ???? ㅤ Hormat kami, Chocolicious Indonesia

A post shared by CHOCOLICIOUS INDONESIA (@chocoliciousindonesia) on Dec 23, 2017 at 3:22am PST