REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU) regretted the statement of Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Indonesia, Osamah Muhammad al Shuaibi on flag burning case in Garut, West Java. PBNU chairman Said Aqil Siradj said Saudi Ambassador's statement has committed a hard diplomatic violation, which is interfering in the political affairs of a country outside its authority.

According to Siradj, Ambassador al Shuaibi said in his Twitter account that the flag was burned by a deviant organization. Siradj stressed the comment disturbed Indonesia - Saudi Arabia diplomatic relations.

“We express strong protest,” said Siradj on Monday (Dec 3).

PBNU believed during this time, Indonesia has good diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia Kingdom. Moreover, Indonesia is a country that has a large number of hajj pilgrims. At least, 20 percent of hajj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia are Indonesians.