Widodo Backs Afghan Peace, Condemns Relocation of US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem
The Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has opened on Friday the Trilateral Ulema Conference at Bogor Palace, which involves Indonesian, Afghan and Pakistani clerics.
The Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has opened on Friday the Trilateral Ulema Conference at Bogor Palace, which involves Indonesian, Afghan and Pakistani clerics.
The whole-day event, hosted by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), was themed “Islam as Rahmatan lil Alamin: Peace and Stability in Afghanistan”.
According to the Jakarta Post, “this meeting is part of Indonesia’s commitment to promote the ulemas’ role [in creating peace],” said Jokowi during the opening ceremony on Friday morning. “We know our efforts to create peace are never easy, but as people of faith, we must believe in help from God. Hence, we should not lose hope or give up.”
Mr Widodo added that the ulemas could better promote peace, as they were model figures that most Muslim adherents followed and listened to, and also possessed the authority “to shape the Muslim image”.
Jakarta Post wrote: in his remarks, the President also emphasized that peace and stability in Afghanistan had been Indonesia’s long-standing goal, so he “strongly condemned” the planned relocation of the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
“I urge other countries not to follow [the US’s] move, which has disrupted the peace process,” Jokowi said, adding that Palestine was on “each Indonesian’s breath.”
Earlier this year, Jokowi met with Ashraf Ghani, Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, in their respective countries to propose that they hold a trilateral ulema conference in Indonesia
