TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian President Joko Widodo or Jokowi received a visit from the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed Al Tayeb, at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday, July 9, 2024.

Al Tayeb arrived at the palace around 11:00 Jakarta time (WIB) and signed the guest book upon being greeted by Jokowi. No public statements were made by either leader at this time.

Following their private reception in the credential room, Jokowi and Al Tayeb held a closed-door meeting in the Jepara Room, accompanied by State Secretary Minister Pratikno, Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, and the Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.

This marks the third visit by the Grand Imam of Al Azhar to Indonesia in the past decade, with his previous visits occurring in 2016 and 2018. The current visit is scheduled to last four days, from July 8 to 11, 2024.

In addition to meeting with Jokowi, Al Tayeb's itinerary includes a public lecture at the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) Jakarta. He is also expected to engage in discussions with interfaith figures, representatives from the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and the Muhammadiyah, the National Zakat Agency (Baznas), and the Al-Quran Study Center.

Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas expressed hope that Al Tayeb's visit would be a source of inspiration regarding understanding, practicing, and sharing experiences related to religious moderation. “Al-Azhar is well-known for its strong focus on promoting religious moderation,” he remarked while welcoming Al-Tayeb at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang on Monday, July 8, 2024.

DANIEL A. FAJRI

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