US AMBASSADOR: TERRORISM ISSUE NOT AFFECTS ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT IN AMERICA

**PTIQ Rector Nazaruddin Umar and US Ambassador to Indonesia Robert O. Blake Jr.** (Photo: mirajnews.com)

Jakarta, 11 Dzulqa’dah 1435/6 September 2014 (MINA) – The United States Ambassador to Indonesia Robert O. Blake Jr. stated terrorism issue does not affect the growth of Islam in the country.

Muslims in the United States continues to increase in terms of numbers. Although there was issue of terrorism, but it does not reduce the growth rate of Muslims there, even Americans are eager to study Islam, ” Blake said in his inaugural lecture at the Institute of the Holy Qur’an (PTIQ), Jakarta, Saturday.

Blake who had been an ambassador in several Islamic countries of Middle East also declared his government gives a wide opportunity to all religions in United States as long as they keep peace and security of the country.

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“As long as the religion maintains public order, our government will provide free space for them to spread their ideology,” he said.

He also said that Indonesia and the United States have the same heterogeneous background population. “If Islam can grow well in Indonesia, it can also grow well in US,” he added.

While in Indonesia, Blake always makes intensive efforts to establish cooperation with the Islamic institutions in several regions. He wants to build a deep connection with Islam as the religion of the majority population.

Meanwhile, the rector of PTIQ, Nazaruddin Umar declared the United States is a fertile ground for the development of Islam. “My family and I had been living in the United States and I feel conducive situation to perform our religious activities,” he said.

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Islam is the fastest growing religion in the United States. In the 2012 census published by Mail Online revealed, the number of Muslims increasing to 2.6 million people, raised 66 percent since 11 September 2001 attacks in New York.

Meanwhile, according to a report from USA Today, the Muslim population in the United States increased nearly four times more from 2.6 million in 2010 to reach more than 9 million people in 2012. The report also stated that one of ten people in New York is a Muslim. The researchers believe the increase has been driven by immigration and converts.

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Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)