VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

After attending The High Level Consultation of World Muslim Scholars on Wasatiyyat Islam which takes place in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia from May 1-4, 2018, Iranian Vice President Massoumeh Ebtekar met with Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Puan Maharani on Wednesday, May 2^nd, 2018 at the Minister office in Jakarta. During the press conference, the Iranian Vice President said that 27 percent of Iranian women have academic education and wish to cooperate with Indonesia that has been successfully empowering women through Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise.

“We hope we will be able to find thelinesa MOU draft that we have in this regardandalsowebegin our cooperation through different areas. We spoke about areas related to women empowerment andone ofthe most importantareasis economic empowerment of women and we know that Indonesia has successful examples on women’sempowerment. We are also in Iran working ontheeconomic empowerment of women. So employment generation policies are prioritiesfor our government. We have specific schemesfor village women where we can forge, empower and frame them but also support them through micro credit fundsand local organisation and I know Indonesia also has a successful experience in this regard and we hope wewill be able towork together,” said Massoumeh Ebtekar.

This wish has a warm welcome by Indonesia through the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture of Indonesia, Puan Maharani in a joint press conference.

“Iran wish to strengthen or increase cooperation in women, education, environment and family sectors, in which, on this opportunity we as the Coordinating Minister that supervise eight ministries will boost the cooperation so it can run well and increase so it can stand stronger especially in women empowerment,” Puan maharani said.

Puan added that it is not the first visit of the Iranian Vice President Ebtekar to Indonesia and it is hoped that it can be the turning point to strengthen cooperation with Indonesia in many sectors. (VOI/NK/AHM)

It is important to revitalize Wasatiyyat, the balance way of life or the moderate way of life that has been the way of Islam especially in current condition where extremism climate is emerging. It was stated by Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi, Chairman of Fiqh Council of North America, Chapman Orange University, California to RRI World Service-Voice of Indonesia on the sidelines of High Level Consultation of World Muslim Scholars on Wasatiyyat Islam which takes place in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia from May 1-4, 2018. Muzammil Siddiqi said today there are many people including Muslims who have lost wasatiyyat, the balance. Thus he urged to be united to bring goodness to the humanity.

“Some people have been very liberal, secular they lost the sense of their religion, some have been very conservative, so we Islam bring people together. Muslim should be together, but we are not going together against anybody, we are not coming together against Christians, against Jews, against Hindus, Buddhist, we are to bring goodness to all people because our prophet is rahmatullilalamin,” Muzammil Siddiqi said.

Siddiqi also said Islam emphasizes to pay attention not only to Muslims but to humanity at large, because all human being such as children are humans, so they all are brothers and sisters in humanity. He stressed that Islam has to care for all, and this is the balance way or wasatiyyat. (VOI/DP/AHM)

The High-level Consultation Forum of World Muslim Scholars on Wasatiyyat has a significant and strategic meaning for Muslims throughout the world, especially Indonesian Muslims. It was stated by Rector of Muhammadiyah University Professor Hamka, Professor Suyatno M. Pd to RRI World Service Voice of Indonesia on the first day of the meeting at Novotel Hotel, Bogor, West Java, Indonesia on Tuesday, May 1st. According to Suyatno, the meeting that will last until May 3rd is very important because at this time the position of Islam needs attention so it can be ummah or the people who can make changes and renewal for ummah around the world. He emphasized that Islam as a religion must be a role model to the world’s civilization.

“Islam as a religion must become a role model to the life of the world’s civilization, so it is not only for Muslims. But from the results of this conference, Muslims will present the face of Muslims that are able to give peace and prosperity for the world’s mankind,” Suyatno said.

Suyatno also said Indonesia as a heterogeneous country must be able to show the real picture of Islam and can coexist with other religions. He also said that with good understanding and good application of wasatiyyat, the conflicts in some countries in the world can be avoided. He pointed out Indonesia with a religious belief can avoid a big conflict because of the right understanding of wasatiyyat. (VOI/DP/AHM)

Indonesian President Joko Widodo introduced Indonesia to the participants of the Ulema and the World Muslim Scholars Consultative Forum held on Tuesday, May 1st at the Bogor Palace, West Java. In front of around 100 participants from various countries, the President said that Indonesia is a democracy country with the largest Muslim population in the world. With the large number of people, tribes and local languages, Indonesia has a diverse challenge that should be maintained. Indonesia, according to President Joko Widodo, has succeeded in maintaining unity and peace by establishing the state’s basic principle Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution. He said that diversity in Indonesia is a boon and source of nation power that make Indonesia grow into a strong nation.

“We are the people of Indonesia want to introduce ourselves, Indonesia is a democracy country with the largest Muslim population in the world. Our Muslim citizens are about 210 million of the total population of 260 million. There are 714 ethnicities. There are more than 1,100 local languages. They are spread over 17 thousand islands. We live in diversity, different religions, diverse ethnicities and diverse cultures. We are thankful that in this diversity Indonesia is able to maintain brotherhood, tolerance, peace and unity. Indonesia has the state basic principle of Pancasila and the motto of bhineka Tunggal ika, unity in diversity, diversity is the grace of Allah SWT. We must maintain the diversity. They are the sources of power that make us a strong nation, but being a very diverse nation,” President Joko Widodo said.

Furthermore, the President said that Indonesia is committed to continuing to foster unity among the people. It is done by prioritizing deliberations accompanied by tolerance and fairness. He also invited all the scholars who attended the opening of the High-level Consultation Forum of the World Muslim Scholars to become models in developing world peace. According to the President it will become an important capital that will play a role in driving the progress of the world. (VOI/Ndy/trans by Rezha/AHM)