TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Former Indonesian President and PDIP party leader Megawati Soekarnoputri met Al-Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed Al Tayeb in Jakarta on Thursday, July 11, 2024. The one-hour meeting discussed how to create and maintain peace and the fraternity of humankind.

The General Chair of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) appreciated the initiative by the Grand Imam and Pope Francis to establish the Human Fraternity Charter which will be followed up by the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity (ZAHF).

"This action strengthens the effort to uphold humanitarian values and justice globally," Megawati said at the meeting as quoted in a written statement on Thursday.

Megawati also expressed her gratitude to the Grand Imam of Al Azhar who appointed her as one of the Judges for the 2024 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity. Megawati was also said to have expressed her thanks to Pope Francis when they met at the Vatican on December 18, 2023.

"I am honored to be able to meet the Grand Imam and (spoken) about how we can work together towards world peace to restore the spirit of humanity," said Megawati.

The Grand Imam of Al Azhar Ahmed Al Tayeb said he strongly agreed with Megawati's ideas. He added that Megawati knew the character of the decision-makers better. "We only know the theory, not in practice," said Ahmed Al Tayeb. He said the meeting results with Megawati will be conveyed to the Egyptian President.

During this meeting, Megawati was accompanied by the PDIP Chair of Foreign Affairs Ahmad Basarah, Islamic cleric and scholar Quraish Shihab, former Indonesian Ambassador to Egypt Helmy Fauzy, and young Islamic figures Ali Hasan Bahar and Tuan Guru Badjang. Meanwhile, the Al-Azhar Grand Imam was with Secretary General Zayed Mohamed Abdelsalam.

ADIL AL HASAN

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