TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - US ambassador for Indonesia, Robert O Blake Jr., said Islamic teachings have a place in his country. He said the number of Muslims and other believers are increasing.

"Islam always has a place in the United States," said Blake while visiting Al-Mujahiddin Islamic boarding school in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, on Tuesday.

During his duty in Indonesia, he always makes time to build cooperation with Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia because the US wants to form deeper relations with them and disseminate information about various programs such as English lesson, Earth Day and Women's Day.

Blake said that the US government has various education program such as student exchange, scholarship and introduction about the country.

Blake denied the belief that the US labeled Islam as identical to terrorism. Indonesia as the country with the largest Muslim population has followed the principles of democracy without discriminating race or religion. "We always uphold the freedom of religion for all. Indonesia also builds democracy like the United States," said Blake.

Al-Mujahiddin Islamic boarding school chief Rusdiman said his school implements modern Islamic curriculum. English language is a compulsory curriculum for 800 students in the school. Al Mujahiddin Islamic boarding school has frequently participated in student exchange program with schools in the US. There are currently three students from the school studying in the US for a year. They are Maulia Hasanah, Lulah and Faradita. "We followed selection procedures with students from other schools," said Rusdiman.

SG WIBISONO