TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Minister of Defense and President-Elect Prabowo Subianto hosted a visit from the Egyptian Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed Al Tayeb at the Ministry of Defense Office, Jakarta on Wednesday, July 10, 2024.

During his meeting with the Grand Imam, Prabowo Subianto said he admired the history and struggle of the Egyptian people. Moreover, he said, Egypt is a nation close to the hearts of the Indonesian people.

"Since Egypt was one of the first countries to recognize Indonesia's independence," said the president-elect in a written statement on Thursday, July 11, 2024.

Prabowo also said the Ministry of Defense is committed to forming a bilateral defense relationship with Egypt which he claimed would be beneficial to both countries.

Previously, the Grand Imam met with President Joko Widodo or Jokowi at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta on Tuesday afternoon, July 9, 2024.

Jokowi and the Ahmed al Tayeb held a closed meting in the Jepara Room of Merdeka Palace. The president was accompanied by Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, and Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.

The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar has visited Indonesia thrice in the last decade, with the first two visits being in 2016 and 2018.

Al Tayeb is scheduled to be in Indonesia for four days on his third visit from July 8 to 11. The Grand Imam is also slated to give a public lecture at the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) in Jakarta.

Al Tayeb also met with interfaith figures, as well as the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU) and the Muhammadiyah Central Management, the National Zakat Amil Agency (Baznas), and the Al-Quran Study Center.

DANIEL A. FAJRI

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