On behalf of the United States government, I offer our sincere condolences to the family of Dr. Bahtiar Effendy, Muhammadiyah’s Chairman of International Relations and professor of political science at Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University.
Dr. Bahtiar Effendy was much respected and will be remembered for his steadfast contribution to promoting Indonesia’s respect for diversity and religious pluralism. He was a Fulbright scholar who earned multiple degrees from U. S. universities, a prolific author, and a valued colleague. I had the pleasure of meeting with him on multiple occasions and was always impressed by his insights and his commitment to open dialogue and social progress. His passing is a true loss for the people of Indonesia.