Indonesia to build an international Islamic university to promote moderate Islam

Jakarta-wapresri.go.id. Indonesian government should reconsider sending its students to Middle East countries as the countries are trapped in various conflicts, says the Vice President.

“This is a good momentum for Indonesia to introduce peaceful Islam to Muslims in the world. That is why we are considering building an international Islamic university in Indonesia to promote the idea,” said Vice President Jusuf Kalla as he received a prominent Indonesian Diaspora in Cape Malay of South Africa, Ebrahim Rasool, at his office in Jakarta, on Monday (April, 18).

This statement is a response to Rasool’s proposal to build an Islamic university in Cape Town with joint cooperation with large Muslim countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia.

Other than strengthening brotherhood with fellow Muslims in Indonesia, Rasool said, the proposed university would spread the teaching of peaceful and moderate Islam as introduced by some prominent Muslim scholars from Indonesia in the past, such as Sheikh Yusuf of Makassar.

“We see that Indonesia has the culture of peace with high level of tolerance. This is important to promote the modern face of Islam that is peaceful,” he said.

Rasool at the meeting also appreciated steps taken by Indonesia during the last Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit held in Turkey in calling on Muslim countries to be care of Muslims in other countries. This, he said, has shown the world that Indonesia is concerned with current situations in the Muslim world.

Concluding the meeting, the Vice President said that other than promoting moderate Islam, Muslims should also give their concern to economic development.

“We should enhance our economy to improve our people welfare,” he said.

Also attending the meeting were Rector of the International Peace College of South Afrika (IPSA) Sheikh Ighsaan Taliep, Executive Director of Maqasid Institute Jasser Auda, Executive Director of of IPSA Sareef Abbas, CEO of Suburban Tours and Travel Fatieg Behardien, Former Indonesian Consul General in Cape Town Abdul Rachman Dudung, Acting Indonesian Consul General in Cape Town Riyadi Asiridin, and a staff at Indonesian Consul General in Cape Town Frieda Olivia.