REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Muhammadiyah is deliberating over the importance of a global consensus in the form of an international agreement, in the wake of the emergence of "Islamophobia" following the Charlie Hebdo incident.

"We should urge the United Nations through the Indonesian government to create an ethical code of conduct to enable peaceful coexistence," Chairman of Muhammadiyah Din Syamsuddin said here on Monday.

The current wave of Islamophobia plaguing Europe is considered unfavorable for global peaceful coexistence and has the potential to damage the peaceful conditions established by moderates, he stated.

"Western countries cannot continue to promote their right to freedom of speech. As long as freedom of speech is understood in absolute terms, it will continue to yield actions and reactions," Syamsuddin noted.

In addition, he suggested that Muslims in Indonesia should come up with intelligent ways to respond to the incident.

"These methods could include pushing for the formulation of a code of conduct, and should be done in a peaceful manner," he remarked.

Muhammadiyah is one of the largest Muslim organizations in Indonesia.

Previously, following the bloody attack at the office of Charlie Hebdo on January 7, the Indonesian government, legislators, and ulemas had joined the global outrage against the incident.

The Indonesian government offered its deep condolences to the government and people of France, especially to the victims' families.

"Indonesia strongly condemns the attack. Our deepest condolences to the families of the victims," Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said while delivering her first annual press statement in Jakarta on January 8.

The minister also emphasized that acts of violence, irrespective of the cause, cannot be tolerated at any cost.

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