President Jokowi: Improve Religious Moderation for National Unity
President Jokowi inaugurating the 9th National Deliberation of LDII virtually from the State Palace in Jakarta, Wednesday (07/04/2021). (Photo: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Rahmat)
The Government is committed to continuing to push for religious moderation in Indonesia, according to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
“The Government is committed to and will continue to strive to push for religious moderation. Intolerance, especially when it is accompanied by physical and verbal abuse, has no place in Indonesia. Violence in practicing religion, which causes conflicts in society, cannot exist in our beloved country,” he said in his remarks at the opening of the 9th National Meeting of the Indonesian Islamic Da’wah Institute virtually, Wednesday (07/04) from the State Palace in Jakarta.
According to the President, religious life must adhere to amiable and friendly religious teachings that put tolerance first, not teachings that are closed and exclusive.
Therefore, he added, the Government will not give room for a close mind and intolerance to grow.
“I have said it in every opening remark, the Government will take firm action against every form of intolerance that can destroy our nation,” he said, adding that religious organizations in Indonesia must improve religious moderation that supports unity and integration of the nation through four measures.
“First, religious organizations must have a strong national commitment that prioritizes national principles written in our constitution, (and) upholds the (national) ideology of Pancasila, the 1945 Constitution, and the life of the people and the nation,” he remarked.
Furthermore, the Head of State said that religious organizations must also uphold tolerance, respect differences, give other people room to embrace their beliefs, to express their beliefs, and to express opinions, respect equality and differences, and be willing to cooperate.
“Third, religious organizations must have a principle, this is crucial, anti-violence principle, reject actions that employ violence, both physical and verbal,” he stressed, adding that religious organizations must respect local traditions and cultures of Indonesia’s diverse people.
“Religious organizations must respect local traditions and cultures of Indonesian people that are very diverse, be friendly and open to the diverse traditions we inherit from our ancestors, be friendly and open to local art and cultures in the framework of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (the country’s motto meaning “unity in diversity”) as Indonesian,” he said. (TGH/UN) (DH/EP)
